Purling Oaks

Wednesdays and where I was last week

I'm really beginning to enjoy Wednesdays.  No, it isn't for the usual camelid-related reason.

In my post-first-career life, my Wednesdays often are a week day where I have no recurring out-of-the-house meetings or responsibilities.  I do household (bed linens and towels) laundry and try to catch up with pending tasks or whatever I missed while traveling around Monday or Tuesday.  Those tasks often leave time for whatever personal projects are of current personal priority and that available time carries a little twinkle of internal joy.    

Today, I'm catching up on my personal laundry (more on why later in this post) and, fingers crossed, finishing up the Norwood loom rehab.  I think I have acquired all the little metal bits that needed replacement, Dan helped me fabricate working back braces, and I need to clean and arrange only about 400 or so flat heddles on the shafts.  Heh.  Well, yes, and visit my dentist's office this noon for the cleaning that was rescheduled from last week.

My playing catch-up today is the result of being at Spin-Off's Autumn Retreat (SOAR) all last week!  It was located at the Pheasant Run Resort in Saint Charles, IL this year.  The food was excellent at all the meals, especially since I had the gluten-free option that resulted in spectacular plates of delicious food rather than the buffet (for lunch and dinner).  I had a really enjoyable time, learned a lot, met new friends, and spent some time with old friends.  My buddy Charlynn was my roomie and, as usual, we had fun attending classes together and getting in some quality shopping.  

I took the 3-day workshop with DY Begay titled Learn to Spin the Navajo Way.  I found it to be a very good and relaxing class -- DY is a great instructor.  The class was full with a manageable size of nine participants, who all contributed something special.  I think we all had a fun time talking, carding, spinning, and learning about Navajo spinning and culture from DY.  We blended light and dark Navajo-Churro fleeces by carding combinations of the two to achieve a range of grays.  Charlynn carded hard and long the last day of class to achieve this lovely spectrum.

(Yes, I had to stand on a chair to get this shot.)  We all joked about having 50 shades of gray in class--we probably exceeded that, actually.  I had good practice with my recently acquired cards and found it amazing how just a very small amount of the lighter fiber can change the dark fleece to gray.  Experimenting with blending will be fun and interesting, I think.

Here's my class samples and spindle.  It is a lovely spindle, with the whorl sliding up and off the shaft for travel.  The spindles provided to us in class were hand made by Al Snipes, a well-known fiber tool maker.  I love mine.

I feel very comfortable making yarn on the spindle and it didn't stress my body at all.  I believe one of my next Navajo-style weavings will use my own hand spindle-spun yarn!

I also took a 2-hour workshop on Thursday from Marilyn Wright on Blackfoot Spindle Spinning.  I really enjoyed the workshop and feel comfortable with the Blackfoot spindle, as well.  It is something that could easily be done on long trips in the car and the spinning put no stress on my shoulders.  There was an article in Spin-Off by Marilyn on this topic earlier this year.

SOAR was on my bucket list and I'm glad I was able to attend as this is the last SOAR.  Or the last SOAR 1.0, as explained by one of the Interweave representatives.  The publisher is revamping the retreat and hasn't decided on what they'll do for the next version of this gathering.  I suspect that a business decision to scrap SOAR was made by somebody that didn't quite have full understanding of the potential impact on the long-time participants and, frankly, the magazine, as this event produces many of the contributers to Spin-Off.  It will be interesting to see what unfolds for SOAR.  My probably unrealistically high expectations were met this year for the event.  I wish the decision-makers for future events clarity of thought, lots of luck, and innovative thinking.

Oh yes, there was some shopping.  Here are some acquisition photos for Carrie.  The yarn in the photo on the right was spun by Master Weaver Sarah Natani and is natural-dyed.   There are silk hankies and top as well as some fabulous suri alpaca yarn that will be woven, once I figure out what I'm doing on the Norwood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Have you stopped by Stacey's to make your entry for a prize and to contribute to NMO research yet?  Go take a peek because there are some great prizes you can win.  And it is for a excellent cause.

Have a lovely Wednesday!

Cuteness and much fiber!

Last week Thursday, I picked up two dozen fresh eggs from Carole, my friend and spinning group leader.  While we were chatting, she asked if I would like to see the lambs.  You can guess my answer, right?!  On our way to the lamb barn, we stopped by her greenhouse.  Well, I should say the slightly repurposed greenhouse.  Yes, those are fleeces drying.  I think this is an excellent use for a greenhouse.  That little structure behind Carole is where she'll put a flat or three of seedlings if need be.  (If it ever gets warmer here.)

Then we came upon the sheep that didn't lamb this year.

Just look at that face, really, all those faces.

Then we went to the lamb barn.

 

I bet Carole thinks I am nuts.  

There is also a yard the sheep have access to but most were in the barn that day for whatever reason sheep have for being there.

More lambs...

And some more...

Here's a girl that has been with Carole for quite a while

Her "do" is a bit flat but I'm told she normally has a lovely hat of hair.  

Carole and her husband, Dave, own Yorkshire Rose Farms.  Carole also dyes and sells yarn, in addition to the other products of their farm including grassfed (delicious) meat and eggs.  The sheep are Romney, Rambouillet, and Tunis (I hope I got that correct) and various crosses.

It was a lovely visit.  Thank you, Carole, as a visit with you and the lambs is a guaranteed path to a happy outlook.

Another Sunny Winter Sunday

Another sunny Sunday is here and once again I had to log into TypePad to post.  

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The trip to California was lovely, no matter how short our trip.  BTW, it all depends on who you talk to at an airline when you need to make last minute changes to your return trip.  The second call resulted in a very reasonable change fee.  The first call would have resulted in buying the airline a new car or diamond ring.  That said, Southwest Airlines will be handy with a nonstop flight out to LA from Milwaukee for very reasonable rates.

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Fuzzle had her teeth cleaned this week and brought home a toothbrush and kitty toothpaste.  Stay tuned for videos of me chasing four cats, armed with a toothbrush, crooning "it tastes just like liver...."

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There's still snow here........

 

The view from the front porch this morning.  However, it is almost March and the days are warming up into the 30's this week even if the nights are still quite cold.  For those of you in Texas and California, it is all relative.  I'm even thinking of starting seeds in a few weeks.  Thinking of it.  Believe it when you see the photos.  

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And, because March is almost here, I'm going to see what kind of gauge I get as I prep for the March edition of:

I am so fortunate to have friends that remember I'm around (aka notice I've been stalking them on Ravelry) despite my inclination to be a recluse.  

Happy Sunday!

Some Warm Pink, some cold White, and a Dot

There was a cardboard box in my mailbox when I got home yesterday.  Here's what was in that lovely box:

Here's a closer look:

And one more:

It was knit by our Cookie!  For me!!!  Thank you, Cookie.  We shall not mention whether or not there were chocolates.  

Pattern: Sweet Jazz

Yarn:  Handspun BFL from Denise

The scarf is lovely and soft and it will keep me warm and draft-free since the winter season is starting a bit early.  (See the white stuff in the first photo?)

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This is also the first snowfall for the cats this season.  White Dot was attempting a crossing of the yard when I caught him on video.  (Yes, I was having a telephone conversation with Cookie.  What?  You don't pick up your camera when you're on the 'phone?!)

 

 

The story had a happy ending--I yelled at the intruder cat who ran away.  White Dot started after him but I was able to catch up with him because of his slow progress across the snow.  :D  (He already has a face scratch that *just* missed his eye that he obtained last night.)  Cookie was long-distance witness to my crazy cat-mom duties.  Why yes, I can continue a conversation and grab a cat at the same time........

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Last night, Dan made fried scallops with garlic mashed potatoes for dinner.  Tonight, he is preparing lamb meatballs with a sauce and rice.  I love my birthday week meals.  Tomorrow is shrimp de jonge, baby peas, mandarin oranges, and carrot cake if Mom sticks to the traditional birthday menu.  It has been a low-key week since I was out of town for my birthday; although, my cousin Kim brought over some chocolate cake Tuesday.  Yum.  I made my black turtle bean soup today in preparation for deer hunting that starts next Saturday.  It is very nice to have several meals prepared in advance when you've been in a tree all day.  

Have a super weekend!

Lists, Tuesday, and Books

This morning I'm drinking coffee and making my lists for the weekend.  Let's see...groceries:  black beans for some black bean soup, mixed bean soup for some, well, mixed bean soup.   Looks like a theme of fall is here, to me!  The plumber is here to fix the toilet that has been slow for longer than I want to say..check!  Bedding in the laundry...check!  I need to expand my work wardrobe with more business attire so I've got go clothes shopping on the errands list, too.  

Tuesday was a good day.   I met up with Vicki in Appleton for dinner and coffee with knitting!  I really enjoyed seeing some of Vicki's recent projects and to see the results of her dye pots in finished form.  She really has a great eye for color.  

We rarely remember to document our meet-ups with photos but Tuesday we both pulled out our phones for the barista.

There!  Documented meet-up with friendly blogger...check!  :D

Next on the list is waiting to have our annual boiler inspection this morning and to finish up the laundry.  I'll probably have to slip some work-work into the morning, as well, since life will be smoother for the next week or so if I get this project finished.

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 I've been reading a lot lately.  Admittedly, it is one of the ways I use to escape stress.  No matter what, reading is always a pleasure.  I've been reading quite a bit with my iPad Kindle app but also a few "real" paperbacks.  The titles have been heavily weighted lately in the urban fantasy/werewolves & vampires genres:  I've read through ALL of Ilona Andrews' books and a good portion of Jeaniene Frost's.  I like both Andrews and Frost.  Andrews builds strong worlds and has a pleasant writing style.  Frost builds good stories but is not as strong a writer--although still very readable.  For Frost's writing, I mean that sometimes I'm "bumped" out of my reading trance by illogical sentence structure or some odd construction from a technical sense.  That happened less frequently as I read the series so perhaps her editor is paying closer attention.  I'm currently on the fourth (hmm, maybe make that the sixth) (Amazon link) book in the Kitty Norville series by Carrie Vaughn.  I read Kitty Goes to Washington a while ago (yes, while I was working in DC) and recently decided to read the whole series.  I was surprised by the turn of events in the third book; Ms. Vaughn is not formulaic in her writing and, obviously, I'm pleasantly entertained since I'm so far into the series.  

 I've also been reading Vicki Pettersson's Zodiac series.  When we were in Columbus, Georgia, we stopped* at The Book House and I purchased the first two books in this series.  Ms. Pettersson's story line is original - to me at least - and I'm enjoying the stories.  I don't always like the heroine as she is so self-centered and, at times, immature, but I think that is also an essential component and keeps me reading to see if this girl will break-out.  Perhaps this heroine is just a bit more "real" compared to my typical expectations of a fictional character. I definitely recommend reading this series....at least through book three which is where I've put myself on hold to give my Amazon account a breather.  

On the more serious side, I've been reading this version of Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson.  I finished it last night and I'm thinking of reading it again, soon.  I recommend it.

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Mid-way through typing this post I noticed the sun was high enough to turn the frost on the outbuildings into vapor.  Beautiful.  (That is vapor, isn't it?)  :D

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Have a lovely weekend everyone!

 

*As a traveler, I have the opportunity to sample a lot of things and one of them is used book stores.  This Georgia book store offered a very nice, yet new to me, selection of used books.  I wonder if I happen to visit there again, would have the same experience?  There were a LOT of new to me fantasy/sci-fi books on the shelves of this store.  Do readers in Columbus read and trade different books than those in Madison, Wisconsin?  Hmmm, probably just a happy circumstance....

Autumn, all ready?

Although each season has unique and welcome offerings, Autumn brings more to the table for me than the others.  The relief of cool nights, the changing greens to orange, red, and yellow then to browns, the wind as it whispers secrets or howls in the night as Halloween approaches---all these stimulate my senses and make this season my favorite.  For now.

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Stacey says it has been two months since I've posted and I don't doubt her.  Sometimes, especially lately, I don't have much that I want to share here, or can share, for truth's sake.  Then, frankly, just being out of the habit of posting contributed to my absence.  However, I am motivated to post about something important to me and to a very dear friend.  

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Stacey is fund-raising right now for NMO, which is neuromyelitis optica (NMO or Devic’s Disease).  It "....is an uncommon disease syndrome of the central nervous system (CNS) that affects the optic nerves and spinal cord. Individuals with NMO develop optic neuritis, which causes pain in the eye and vision loss, and transverse myelitis, which causes weakness, numbness, and sometimes paralysis of the arms and legs, along with sensory disturbances and loss of bladder and bowel control." ~From The National Institute of Neurological Disorders"

Not many people know about this disease and it doesn't get as much funding or attention as it should.  Stacey's being challenged by NMO and we both want better and more research to find better treatments and a cure.  You can help find a cure by contributing to her fundraiser.  There are a lot of great prizes for knitters and non-knitters and for those folks living in East Texas.  This year, I donated a brand-new, never out of the package iPod Nano for one of the prizes.  It is cool.  Seriously.  Did you know you can fit that little thing into a watchband and be a very cool techie-nerd person.  Or just be cool by having one of the newest iPods out with cool watch faces.  Even Mickey Mouse.  I.am.not.kidding.  Make a contribution to NMO in Stacey's name and for every ten dollar contribution, you'll be entered to win one of many prizes, just tell her when you visit her blog to let her know you're helping to win the fight against NMO.  Go.  Contribute.  Win stuff.  Feel good.

Gusty winds of change, candy correlation, and unexpected treasure

Blog?  Posting, what's that?  Life outside the blog is taking up a lot of my energy.  However, situations are changing.  I'll be giving up Purling Oaks East in less than two months and soon will be based from only one location--home!  I can comfortably say with confidence that I'll have more weekend time at home.  The rest is still up for determination.  Or is that self-determination?  

There's a merger (of sorts) in process at work and everything is changing for just about everyone.   Yes, chocolate consumption is high and there was absolutely no Easter candy left at the drugstore next door for reduced sale after Easter.  None.  That's more telling than anything I could write about anxiety, water-cooler talk, or fake job assignment letters left at the printer.

Last week I went to a Nationals game with two friends, Mary Jo and Roberta.  It was fun and the stadium is new, nice, and clean.  The nachos and hot dog were tasty and the beer cold.  I haven't had baseball nachos in ages.  That will do me for a while but they were still good.  Caution:  iPhone photos!

We had better seats than these photos show but they were still nosebleed seats.  

When I'm back inWisconsin, I'm going to miss the dinners, lunches, outings and talks with Robyn, Kathleen, MJ, and Roberta.  Three of us have places in DC, besides homes and family in points west.  Two of us are based near DC but may end up elsewhere (like an island!). I know/hope that when we go to the four winds, or is that five winds?,--me first--that we'll still get together.  I really didn't expect the friendship I found in the east and I'm glad I'll be able to carry it with me.

This morning's task is laundry; this afternoon's list includes errands and a trip into Madison.  Tomorrow, we're going north to see Mom for an early Mom's Day brunch.  I hope today's weather holds.  It is beautiful outside this morning.  Sunday---back on the road.  

If anyone is interested in a one-way Road trip from DC to Wisconsin in mid-June, let me know.  A navigator would be fun to have along.  :D

Last Sunday in April

Not a brilliant post title but it does allow for a bit of a theme, should I continue in the same vein.  I won't, you'll thank me.

There's a finished object!  Socks!

Here's the ravelry link for this project.  I started these socks WAY back in 2008 with some yarn won at Joan's.  (thanks, Joan!)  I restarted them a few times and the actual construction of this version took actually less than a year.  Magic loop, short-row, toe up, 60 stitches, plain vanilla sock with 2/1 ribbing.  I divided the skein into two balls to take out the guess work.  I'm very happy with them; they feel great.  

I'm hoping to have more finished  (and started) objects later this year but considering my schedule the past two years, I think I'm doing fine.  The socks haven't been my only FO since 2008, just a lingering project that gave me a few challenges.  

Happy Easter, all you that celebrate!

 

 

More beachy goodness

Re-entry to the working life after vacation was brutal.  That description is a bit of an exaggeration....but not by much.  Obviously, I need a longer vacation!  :D  However, there are limits on some things so I'll just share another beach photo to recapture the mood.  

(iPhone shot - you don't know how many I took to get most of us in the photo)

 

Thanks to Carrie/Kitten for the request.  Did you know that she's moved her blog?  Did you see that she has a new hat to wear?  Go see the new "hat" she's wearing--I love it!  

Happy Monday!

Happy Birthday, Mr. Lincoln*

Hai!

I've sipped and savored my first one and a half cups of coffee this morning.  Now to start working the keyboard.....

Here's a bit of catching up.....

Way back in January....but less than a month ago...I met up with Nora and some new-to-me friends in Watertown, Wisconsin, for a few hours of talking knitting, yarns, shoes, spinning and other things that knitters talk about when gathered.  It was a cold, sunny, and lovely day.  I brought along my spinning wheel since my ability to knit correctly and talk while making sense at the same time is challenged at times.  Nora described the day with more photos and details here.  Speaking of Nora....

She took to it quite well.  I know that our work to create a wheel spinner is not finished yet but we are so much closer after that day in January.  

Just a few days later in Washington, D.C., I had the great pleasure of meeting up with Angie (aka Lori-Angela) for a long lunch at a sandwich place just a block from my office.  She was visiting our capital city from western Canada with her husband who had the handy excuse of a convention to come to visit.  We share a name and, in fact, our husbands share a name, which is fun to mull.  She's a very productive knitter and I'm not, but we didn't let that stop us.  We had a lovely visit and a nice discussion of knitting-relating stuff and of transitions (which we're both experiencing).  The time went too quickly.  It was so nice to meet another "virtual" friend and have her materialize in real-time.  

 

I'm contemplating ripping Williamsro.  The time that it has been tucked away has moved me to different sweater likes for myself, although I still love the pattern, just not for me.  I'm considering a top-down cardigan, probably Laura Chau's pattern here and probably with the yarn from Williamsro although I do so love Noro Silk Garden.  My plan is developing.  I had considered using the yarn I won in the NMO funds drive over at our Stacey's (looks like I'm too late for a page linky) but the gauge I'm getting won't give me the quick (at least in my mind) or faster knit that a heavier weight than Silky Wool will give, although I love that yarn, too.  Yup, I did a gauge swatch.  I'll do another with Cash Iroha, maybe today on the drive north.

We're taking a day trip up to visit with my mom and family to celebrate her birthday, that was this past week Tuesday.  Happy Birthday, Mom!   I'm looking forward to our visit and better sign off to get myself ready to go.

 

Have a good weekend!

 

*This was the first thing that came to mind for a title.  Sometimes, you just have to go with the flow to get a project started and finished.