Ramblings,Ravings,& Rovings

Yarns Made Recently

2011-01-24T05:51:00.007+10:30

It's nearing 6 am- been up since 4 am....after going to bed around midnight(?)-

so I am not going to try to be fancy or even too coherent !

Just thought I'd show some yarns I recently finished- washed and everything (now, but not in the pictures)- although not measured. Some show the singles before plying, too.

This yarn is from 2 Romney sliver balls from Kathy's Fibres (http://www.kathysfibres.com/) that were done in the "Tequila" colourway. Very easy to spin and made the nicest yarn- it passed the 'prickle test' on a 6 yr old's bare skin! Pretty impressive! I love the colour.

Singles on the bobbins above, the yarn is below:

This shows a partial bobbin left of singles made from a special extra batt made by Jane of Moseley Wool ( http://www.moseleyparkhome.com/ ) that had been included with the last fibre club mailing of 2010. ( or was it the next to last- can't remember at the moment...)

and I plied this singles with some plain dyed English Leicester ( EL) /Merino in the Electra colourway - also from Jane.

This singles made from alpaca,tussah silk, & wool was plied with a solid purple singles spun from wool batts in the most divine purple from Kathy ( the photo I took of them turned out MUCH too blue so haven't included them here....

to create the yarn below: Soft and squooshy- I think it will make a very interesting hat and mittens set... I hope there's enough anyway! ;)

Thanks for looking!

Hope all is well.

Summertime Delights!

2011-01-04T18:00:00.007+10:30

Well! Over the holidays we certainly did have some fun going around to some different places on a PYO fruit/fresh from the farmgate sales search!

Our first venture out we found some peaches and tomatoes. And some sundried bananas.
Also got some cherries from Beerenberg Farm in Hahndorf and some from a place called Adelaide Cherries just outside Echunga...wouldn't recommend the latter of the two.
Wasn't too impressed with the fruit or the waitstaff sorry to say.

But our next adventure out was FABULOUSNESS!!
We headed out for PYO strawberries in the fields of Beerenberg Farm instead of just buying from the shop like last time. After paying $3 each for the two adults to get into the fields, we picked nearly 3kilos ( 6.5 lbs) of strawberries. Paid for them and then decided since we were that close to Melba's Chocolate Factory and DS LOVES the place we'd go there... after that I drove and we were going to go through Lobethal to get to Lenswood to have a lovely drive and if we happened upon some cherry orchard/s- all the better...
well! What an adventure!- on the way we saw signs for cherries- so we followed it to Charleston and voila! We arrived at Balhannah Nursery where they had their orchard open for PYO! I think we just happened to luck out- but let me tell you- I wanted some sour cherries- well! -they didn't have 'real' sour cherries- but "sour-ish" ones- the man rode his motorbike out to the orchard and showed us where we could taste a few to see if that was what we wanted and then directed us to the Vans ( a variety of cherry here) if we decided we wanted some sweet cherries instead/also.
What a wonderful time we had= nearly the only people there and the sour cherry trees were just loaded with BEAUTIFUL fruit. Riley was nibbling as he picked and kept saying "Mmmmm~" every so often! I think he likes sour ones more than sweet ones! We only picked just over a kilo as we had no idea how much we had or if we had enough money with us to pay for what we picked! lol ( Thankfully we did!)
We picked a kilo of sweet ones as well and made our way back. Drove through Lenswood on the way home and we saw a few cherry places, but were too chuffed with what we had to worry about stopping for more! There only 3 of us and not alot of freezer space- and we were pleased with what we had! Oh- yeah- somewhere in there we fitted in a stop at The Wooden Toy Factory with the Big Rocking Horse. :) Riley had wanted to stop there too. It was SOOOOOOOO crazybusy! We couldn't believe our eyes!
We didn't stay too long. Were going to get some hot chips as we'd not eaten all day- but the wait was at least 40 minutes! No way were we waiting that long for hot chips!
( we stopped at a Foodland grocery store that was open instead and got potato chips and a 1.25 litre of soda instead! lol)

Anyway- below are some photos of our spoils from a very productive Adventure Day! :D

This is the cherry pie we made today. OMG- I havent' made a pie in YEARS! It's cooling now- hope it is nice. Sour cherry pie is about the only pie I actually miss from the USA, not being a crust person too much. Love the fruit- prefer it fresh over any other way. But sour cherry pie is one that I really do love.

So here it is before being baked:

And here it is after. My oven is much too hot and always burns things- esp. in the back right corner- so I try to move things around. Didn't remember to with this .....*sigh* but It wasn't too bad in the end. Next pie I will try the 'cover it with foil' trick.

The last two pictures are of wee little Sugar Pies made like my mom used to do with her pie scraps. Riley and I filled 3 wee little pie tins with dough and then put in brown sugar, butter, and milk- i popped them in the oven and a few minutes later out came these 3 adorable and YUMMY sugar pies that tasted as good as mom's did! I was / am very happy about that. :)

I will try to add on a photo of the cherry pie once it's been cut a bit later. Will probably do a separate post though- to save on confusion. :)

Oh and that night Riley lost his 3rd tooth,too! He was so excited about the day and how special it was and then to lose his tooth too- that topped it off! :D

Hope you are well!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011

2011-01-01T07:55:00.003+10:30

Some Lantana flowers old and new- to celebrate New Year's Eve and Day. :)

Well- today's date has got to be mentioned!

1/1/11

I am the nerdy sort who thinks that is brilliant!;)

How was your Christmas? Ours was nice and peaceful over all! The weather even stayed cool enough that I could cook a 'traditional' roast meal! ( Sanitarium brought back their veg-friendly roast so we could have that plus potatoes, stuffing, and brussel sprouts! :D)

Here's what Riley left out for Santa (and the reindeer!)He even made him a small card. It was brilliant!

Being early in the whole Christmas eve parcel delivering- Santa was hungry! He ate nearly ALL gone!

I hope your holidays of 2010 were wonderful and my the year of 2011 find you enjoying life even more than you did in 2010.

:)

Summer has hit us here in SA- temps have been pretty darn hot!
Thankfully no long spells of it. And with all the winter rains in 2010- I've seen some amazing flowers and such growth on things that haven't grown this well in all the years ( 9 ) I've been here!

This is a short post this time. Just wanted to be sure to wish you all the best 2011 you can have! And then some!!

I hope you are well.

Some Photos To Share

2010-11-28T16:12:00.005+10:30

Hi! I have some pictures I'd like to share- many more to come but for now- here is DS in a hooded vest I made for him. The pattern is from Spotlight- www.spotlight.com.au- and can be more readily accessed via Ravelry if you are a member there. :)

These were taken several months ago- still in 2010- but think it might've been just before the cool weather was going to set in. He does wear it occasionally still! :)
The next photos are of the Bottlebrush plant ( bush) ( Callistemon is the 'proper' name, though I'm not sure I have spelled it correctly....)
It's still quite small but has grown ALOT this last year- it's 3 years old now.

ANd here are our Halloween pumpkins... You cant' tell it but the one on the left is an actual "Jack-o-Lantern" type pumpkin! It was originally $22 for ONE pumpkin from the local Woolworth's..... we got it reduced at $8 and I have saved virtually every seed from it in hopes of raising more from this one outlay! lol
More photos in future posts... for now ~
Hope you are well.

It's Nearly Summer and The End Of The Year!

2010-11-16T11:08:00.006+10:30

Aw heck- it's been more than a year since I posted- I am not even going to try to catch up or apologise profusely... If you are reading this, please know I am thankful for your visit!

Not much new/different to talk about.....
I just thought I would copy a post I had on Ravelry and put it here for posterity's sake....
about the hopeful wantings for our garden. :) It was a pretty wet winter for us here so things have really responded and the soil has even been diggable in places it hasn't been for 8 years!
I am planting things in hopes of the sun being 'nice' this year and the weather cooperating for us to have a very nice garden.... I'm also investing in some more pea straw and potting mix to help improve the chances.

I'm still spinning / creating yarn- and even used a good amount of it making a 6 pointed star blanket for DS. :) It's a continuing work in progress... it's big enough for him now- but probably not so much by next winter so will spin some more soft smooshy merino for the rest of the blanket.

OK- here's my garden line-up......
in no particular order:
I/we have plants: 2 wax begonias ( 1 green, 1 red )
2 coleus- 1 green with pink, 1 burgundy with pink /green
1 dusty miller
3 cockscombs ( yellow,pink, multi) (DH’s choice) (can’t think of the proper ‘latin’ name for them- will fill it in when I do! Celosia!)
1 snapdragon (pink) (DS’s choice)
2 strawberry plants & a petunia mix ( in hanging baskets)
Seeds/seedlings started at home: Popcorn avocado watermelon pumpkin( halloween ones) dill basil lemon balm silver beet/swiss chard (white) thyme cucumbers Marigolds (african, not calendula although we have these as well!), snapdragons, alyssum, cosmos, nigella (love in a mist), salpiglossis(painted tongue), rockery and cottage garden packet mixtures , and nasturtiums. Oh and volunteer tomatoes in pots out front. (fingers crossed)

The lily of the valley plants ( 2 of 5) are coming up! I AM SOO excited about that!),
a tuberose is also coming up that I didn’t know if it would make it or not!,
Iris/Flags from freecycle,
------------------ ended here as it was time for school drop off! --------------------------
On the way home from school this morning we stopped at the McLaren Vale nursery where we found rose scented, pot-pourri scented, and peppermint scented geraniums, of which the latter has come to live with us. :) I also had DH help me pull up a healthy piece of Vinca Vine from the outside the Kindy fence….. I love vinca although I know it is a big old pest going crazy and filling up space- but that’s OK with me! ( except things like that tend to be a haven for the snails….). They had an amazing little plant that looked like it was a cross between a small dogtooth violet and a maiden hair fern that was growing everywhere - it is sooooo pretty and charming- it obviously wouldn’t grow here too readily as it likes moist shade, but when I asked about it all he said is that it is a weed and that I don’t want it to get started! :( I would say it’s my business if I want a lovely delicate looking weed like that to grow in my garden- but I just really wanted to know what it was!!!!!! I also know one needs to be careful so as not to cause a problem. ANyhow- now I am back but I am out of sorts as to what I have plants/seeds wise that I haven’t listed. I know I would like to get a zucchini plant or two in….. still waiting to see if my old seeds are going to sprout at all before I go buy new ones- or seedlings likely at this late of a date.
oh! I have seeds that I saved from a nice butternut squash/pumpkin we just had the other day… so might plant some of those and a few of the seeds from the halloween pumpkin that I saved as I mentioned before. ANd ohhhhhhhhhhhh I would just LOVE to grow a few cantaloupe/rockmelons! But not sure.
( chives, parsely, and choc. mint plants from last year/earlier in the year also should be mentioned I reckon!!! The first two varieties having been put into the ground after surviving last summer and winter in pots…… )
Also hope to manage a few pea plants and red /purple runner beans. :)

Yellow peppers and zucchini plants came to live at my house today too.

I also just remembered I have a “Rose of Sharon” bush that was given to me ( small stick with leaves! lol) last Autumn which needs a permanent home…. it’s a deciduous hibiscus….not sure what it’s called here.

Hope all is well.

July is Busting Out All Over

2009-07-18T07:44:00.003+09:30

Hello!
Gosh- it's been so long since I posted- things have changed from the pre-published side of things.
I think I like them!
:)

So- how is everyone?
Not much new here at the moment- but soon RJB will be starting kindergarten!
Little did we know that at the tender age of 5, he is out of the loop already with school things!
We called the local kindy place at Moana and were promptly told he couldn't be there as he was too old! Children who are 5 go to first grade!
Now- for most children that may be OK- but we live rather unsocial ( for lack of a better word) lives so being among a bunch of strangers AND expected to know all about school and how it works ( being in first grade and all) seemed daunting to US let alone DS. He had even lately gone into hiding behind me when people spoke to him...much to my embarrassment. I mean- I didn't expect him to talk away,but did think he would be able to say HI or at least wave!
Ah well- how the tables have turned- we've got an interview with the Willunga Waldorf (Steiner) school this coming Tuesday (followed Wed. with a dental appt. for me- can anyone say 'suffering with nerves?'), then at some point they come for a home visit to chat, then he should get to start their Kindy program ( first year of Kindy is age 5 and three part days a week, age 6 is second year kindy where he goes all day...not sure how many days a week- I'll worry about that when we get to it......). They have a gentle approach it seems, and while I think he will be disappointed that he is not going to have a desk and all that- I am hoping he will enjoy getting the social skills that we were unable (or unwilling in the case of daycare) to offer him. PLUS he has now taken to wanting to go ( alone! "Mum/Mom- you stay here") visiting the neighbours. Thankfully the folks he goes to see are very kind and caring and don't mind at all that he comes to visit.....although I am sure if he visited like he wants ( every day all day) he'd wear out his welcome quickly.
These folks have places to go and things they do!
Anyway- trying to cut down the visiting to one house/person per day and only once a week per person! lol The odd part is how he much prefers to go alone! I will not lie and say it doesn't hurt my feelings. It does. But only because ( I think) it feels as though I've done something wrong that he doesn't want me around while he talks. Not sure what I've done to create it- if I have...
but while it's nice to have him out and being social and having a bit of time for myself- it does feel weird/odd. I figured I'd lose him to school before I'd lose him to friends! lol
So- I do intend to update things about school and all as it happens- or during.....
fingers crossed we can afford to keep him in the Waldorf system- all school costs 'something' here (as opposed to the USA where public school is free to attend), but this one is def. more expensive. But hey- what price can you place on FREEDOM!? -He doesn't have to wear a uniform! YAY! Although- again, is this my child?- he actually wants to wear one- he has a shirt all picked out for it- a deep golden yellow colour. Not sure if he has the bottoms figured out yet. We'll worry about that part later too! lol
We'll be driving him there- about 20 mins each way....... which I am mostly not looking forward to- but there are no school buses that I am aware of to take him there and I wouldn't put him on the public bus ! I am also not keen on early mornings. But that too will be dealt with.....it'll be interesting to see how it goes for DS as well. He likes mornings- but gets up when he wants- no schedule. I don't expect I'll have any trouble the first day. ;)

Well- that's about it for me....
I continue to spin- am loving this time of year with lots of fresh fleeces available...
the Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show is happening in Victoria at the moment- so most fleecey folks are at that this weekend. Maybe next year for us. But for now I have so much fibre to spin it isn't funny ( delightful to know, but guilt inducing when I buy more and cant' figure out where to put it as the spare room is about full to the ceiling with boxes of fluff now!), and Aug. 8 is the second of two events we like to attend- Mt Pleasant's SACSOS fibre event day. And this year- Jane from Moseley Wool over in Kimba is making the trip to sell her fleeces- which will be the first time I get to touch before I buy! and of course I am looking forward to Kathy B's things- her batts and 2 new colourways in the roving/tops!!! By the way- she has a new online store- I haven't posted since she opened I believe- all her colourways are there except the 2 new ones- I am sure she will be adding them soon..... why not go have a peek and treat yourself to some amazing colourways on 24micron wool? Plus lots of other things on offer- including matching yarn to the spinning fibre colourways! I think that is brilliant. She offers lots of interesting fibres on her webstore- click HERE for Kathy's webstore . :)

Well- I hear my little angel calling for his Dad- so I better get going.
This has been an EXCEPTIONALLY wet winter for us here in SA and I am loving it.
This is the most rain I've seen in 7 years in Australia! Woo hoo!
Everything is so green and lovely.
I do wish winter would not hurry so much.
Spring will see the grass start to turn brown and I am not ready for that-haven't had enough of green yet.
Maybe we will go to Kuitpo Forest tomorrow!

Must go- "Dad" is not responding the bleats!

Hope all is well.

Longtime No Blog

2009-05-03T15:47:00.003+09:30

Aw heck!
What can I say?! No excuses offered ( even though I have reasons why I haven't blogged-but who cares in the end, really?)- Ravelry is where I tend to spend most of my online 'free' time- and my blog has suffered.
This weekend we went to the Fiber event in Littlehampton and when Chris *waves to Chris* saw us she mentioned it had been since FEBRUARY (!!) since I blogged! I honestly hadn't realised it had been that long!

I don't have any pictures resized to post today- but will try to get back soon to show off what we brought home at the Adelaide Spinners and Weavers Guild Open day... but it's too close to dinner time to do alot of photo editing and adding.

Suffice to say I've been busy with life in general- have had a few times when I've been feeling pretty crappy- and am currently dealing with pain from a tooth extraction. What a fancy word- extraction. It's been a week and a piece of jawbone did come out with the tooth- but am wondering how long it is to be hurting and when I need to worry things aren't right.

Spinning is still my preferred free time filler and spin whenever I can. I now have a wheel and two spindles on the go with active spinning on them! Nearly every spindle I own has some sort of fiber on them- but mostly are small bits I've spun from leftover singles and there they sit! lol

Next post I will write about yesterday's fiber fun and add pics- and will show a few of RJB- as he is nearing his 5th birthday and is just growing up so fast. We also are going this week to check out a school for him ...... he will need to go starting in June or July I think it is.
It's going to be a rough first few days I think- but we have bought workbooks from the stores and he does them with ease on most things- understanding what i mean before I even explain the instructions and let me tell you- I am one proud momma/mum! Math is going to be so easy for him..... I fear he will outsmart us at grade 3! lol he whizzes through math related things so easily and can read some words as well! His writing is coming along so well- he wouldn't write letters with me when I tried to get him to- but with these write on/wipe off books that I got- he writes the letters and fills in the numbers and all that with ease! The workbooks that I got are more for children in 1-2 grade- and he is still doing them so easily. And MAZES- he can do those so quickly with no or very few mistakes it is awe inspiring! I reckon I sound a bit of a mother peahen about him - but for all the times people have expressed concern about his not being in school *yet*... I think he is going to show everyone that he is s.m.a.r.t! ;)
It's the social part of it and leaving me/us that is going to be the challenge- as most children do have day care experience while ours has been spoiled and raised with me and not away from me.
It's pretty overwhelming at times- but I am proud to be a SAHM! ANd Ideally I would like to continue that or be a WAHM. ( Yarn anyone!?) but one thing at a time- let's get DS in school and settled. We've done ok this far and believe things will be good for us after he goes to school as well.

OK- off to get things around for dinner/tea. Thanks for reading!
If you are on Ravelry- I am Twirlygig ( if you don't know it already! lol) and have way too much posted there for you to read if you want to look me up and read my posts! ;)
I also Twitter under the same name- let me know if you Twitter too- follow me! I do have my tweets protected so I don't have to deal with s p a m too much.....but if you just let me know who you are I will be glad to have you follow me and I will follow you! ( strains of John Denver's "Follow Me" are playing in my mind now...... bless him.)

Hope all is well!

Back for more!

2009-02-06T07:32:00.008+10:30

After two days of less hot ( still above 30°c/in the 90°'s f) weather the old heatwave has decided to give us a 1-2 punch in the kidneys and we are meant to be 40°c (103°f) plus today with humidity and an overnight temp of over 30°c!!!! And then tomorrow is meant to be WINDY and HOT until the cool change comes through- but they can't (or won't) predict just when that will be- meanwhile they are forecasting another HOT day. I know you are doing it rough in parts of the USA with such cold temps..... I wish you some of our heat and we'll take some of your cold,ok? Please? Just looking forward to Sunday now.
OK- enough about the weather- how about some yarn and other pictures to see?
(Can you imagine!? On this blog!?? ) ;)

First off is a continuity set of photos of a roving I got back in Aug of last year... created by Kathy Baschiera of SA. ( There are rumblings of the birth of a new website for this talented lady- updates as I know them! )

This photo below is not so great but shows the whole hank/skein in not it's quite true colours. The camera we have doesn't like greens, purples, or oranges. I've tried different settings,etc.- no no avail- so now I try to find something that will colour balance the item I am trying to get.

Sometimes it works- sometimes it doesn't. This one didn't- but you can see the whole amount of yarn I made and then see the closer pictures for true colours.
The next photos are of some fibre called Rockmelon Fizz from Moseley Park Home. It was this most amazing electric peach colour- until I left it to soak (unintentionally, it was the rinse and I forogt about them being in the basin!) with another skein that has some blue in it and that coloured the water and didn't this take up some of it and toned it down! :( I bought more so this time it will be washed by itself!! ( Lesson learned!) It's soft and squooshy. :)

This is the fibre in lock form and after I hand carded it into rolags...

Light and airy rolags are fun and easy to spin!

The singles before plying...

The finished 2ply yarn. :)

This next picture shows lovely dark purple and lime green machine dyed merino blend I did after reading about it in Spin-Off magazine. It was an interesting experiment- doubt that I will try it again any time soon- wsa very prep. intensive and I am not keen on alot of prep time. I like to SPIN!!!!!!!!!! : D This was as close to purple as I was going to get- nothing else added to the picture would make it more purple...*sigh*

Speaking of shocking colour differences- here is nearly the true colour of a skein of yarn made from some mixed wool ( can't remember the combo- romneyX?) batts Jane of MPH sent dh and I as a surprise at Christmas! He spun a batt and I spun one- then we combined them. Each plying a skein. This is Dh's... since they showed up awful on camera- I didn't bother to try the other one! lol Such a lovely dark Teal colour- verrrrry nice! Once again- I apologise for the awful picture.... it was the best i could do to get close to the real colour. Another squooshy yarn,too.

But here's how the skein shows!! Shocking/Crazy- isn't it??

OK- and now I have to add on just a few garden photos of pre-heatwave....Here is the beginning- corn and various squash/pumpkin vines.

It was nice to sit in the early morning and late evening then and enjoy the garden and its changes.
Then it all grew and grew and grew!!!!!!

Some zucchini's are in there!

The corn did well- the best we've ever done

And here are the spoils!

Here are some sunflowers and my butterfly bush in bloom- the honeyeaters love the butterfly bush! I love them both! :)

And this little beauty is my Salpiglossis! I didn't get a photo of the yellow one. :(

But I had three that looked like this. They didn't get as large as they could've- I've seen them in Longwood Gardens, near Philadelphia,PA,USA- but am so delighted I finally got some to grow!

I will try for a better place next year!

OK- been here for hours now- need to get up and move, plus the rest of the family is awake! lol

Hope you are well.

ps. Happy Birthday Mom - Feb. 5 - I miss you every day.

Pics of Yarn, Yarn, and Oh- Did I Mention Yarn?

2009-02-02T15:35:00.010+10:30

Will keep this short word-wise ( don't be shocked! )
and will post many photos of my current FY- ( finished yarns ) - and even some hand dyed roving we did!~
Before all that though- Happy Groundhog Day! ;) Go Phil!

Below is a photo of our first attempts at dyeing wool roving/tops with food colouring.
These two were dyed with leftover dye......

Then the 3 pictures below this is the one RJB did mostly on his own-the top one shows the true colours best.

OK and to the yarn- this I just finished today- not even washed yet! It's English Leicester Locks in the "Fairy" colourway done by fabulous Jane at Moseley Wool. :)
On the spindle is the small amount I had left over of singles so I navajo plied (3ply) them on the spindle so I could free up my bobbin for the next yarn. The yarn skeins show yarn I spun on my Ashford Traditional spinning wheel- 2 ply. Don't know the WPI or the length yet- sorry!

This shows it up close- I really wanted to have lots of 'hairiness' to it. While it isn't as much as I had hoped for- it is still wonderful!

The next bunch of photos are of a Merino roving I got given at Christmas from DH- (also from Jane's store)- called "Kalaidascope" (2 ply)... the top picture is of the fibre after I split it into thinner long pieces to do less drafting of the fibre so I could keep the colourway intact as much as possible. :) It's always so soft and fluffy in this state- you just want to bury your face in it! yummmmmm. :)

On the bobbin- the plied yarn waits for the niddy noddy ......

Then here are the before and afters of some EL locks ( From Jane's store Moseley Park Home, of course! lol! ) done in the 'Hotshots' colourway- the yarn is once again a 2 ply.... LOVE this one- one of my very favourite colourways- I hope she does more one day! :) I took OOOOOooooooodles of pictures- but only chose a few for here- the bottom picture shows the colours most true... yellow and pink and white and peachy colours!

OK- need to call it quits for now. More to share- but see I need photos of it! Thought I had done so before washing! Ooops!

Thanks for looking- will post some garden/flower pics inthe near future- from before the heatwave that is! ha!

Hope you are well.

Hot enough for ya?

2009-01-31T21:11:00.006+10:30

While my friends and family in the USA are generally suffering the harshness of Winter- we here in Australia are having a wild summer.
Once again this year we are having a heatwave.....
temps near or over 100°F (39°C) ( and UP!) we are breaking 70 yr old records for the state of South Australia and I, for one, am NOT loving making history!
We had an overnight low of 33°C the other night- ( that's over 90°F) - in the house it never got below 34°C! The day temps were then well over 100°F with a high of 45 being recorded in the city of Adelaide- it was likely 43 or so here. I didn't venture out to guess. Sweltering in my home in front of a fan is plenty enough confrontation with it all!!!!!!! lol ( I can laugh now- at the moment we are having gusty winds and the temps are nearing high 70°'s (24°C). This is like heaven for us.)
We have another week of this to go. Temps all above 35°C being forecast for the next week- here's hoping we are a bit cooler than they say. Times like these I really sincerely kick myself for not having an A/C!! Most times of the year we dont' really need one.... it's just these blinging summer heatwaves that keep coming back...
ah well.
Anyway- I didn't come here to just write about the weather- I got yarn and fiber to write about as well! LOL
OK _ I actually just came to add my SARK button along the side bar..... it's time for some serious SARK-dom! ( yeah right- oxymoron there!) Check her out. I have been a fan of hers for YEARS now- ever since I found one of her books at the Waldenbooks bookstore I worked in at the Lycoming County Mall in Muncy,PA.
I do NOT miss working retail..... not one bit- but I sure do miss the stores.
and the discounts! ;)
Will try to post a bit more when the weather has cooled- I really have spun yarn and washed it and dried it and we even tried our hands at doing our own hand dyed merino tops/rovings! What a hoot- once we got started I mean! I can see us doing more real soon. We 'cooked' it in the car even- solar power at it's finest!
Will post pictures soon- need to edit them down to the right size.
PS) Garden is all but dead with this heat and no rain for weeks and weeks and weeks.
I do still have some flowers hanging in there- even SALPIGLOSSIS!!!! yes! I grew my own- well- two! One pink and one yellow one..... the yellow one had the unfortunate timing to come out just as the heatwave hit.....but it is doing OK!
We got some corn, cucumbers, and zucchini from the garden before this though- so I feel fortunate. :)

Hope all is well.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-16T10:59:00.004+10:30

I guess even being 15 days late it is still ok to wish everyone a happy new year- heck - I figure we have 'til April 1st! ( I'd read somewhere that the reason it is called April Fool's Day was because by then if you are still writing the wrong year on your paperwork then you are a 'fool'. I have since read other explanations for the day, but none stuck like this story....)

Seems there is not much to write about and yet alot.
Summer has been pretty kind to us so far this year- we have only had about 3 hot days with one stupidly hot day earlier this week.
I am loving a cooler summer- and am on Ravelry trying to figure a way to get my arse to New Zealand to live!

Great news from Christmas - my sister (waves to Donna, "HI Donna!" :) )got a new computer for Christmas so she can see pictures of RJB and lots of others and can finally see my blog!

I also have to squee a bit about 'one' of my gifts- lots of spinning fibre from DH from Jane's Moseley Park Home online store! I haven't taken photos of what I got yet- and have actually spun or am in the process of spinning some already that I won't be able to photograph it all together. ( Plus Jane was an absolute doll and threw in some extras for us - what fun! And THANKS JANE!;)

I will try to be better at posting things here- I tend to write and show more on the Ravelry boards lately.

Would like to get photos of my scarf and amulet bag from the Scarf exchange 2008 put on here- have them taken- just didn't get them on here yet.
No photos today.

On a 'sad' note- I didn't get any Christmas cards sent like I intended this year. It's just my northern hemisphere brain I guess.....hard to get in the holiday spirit when it is 90°F outside! But I want you all to know I thought of you all and gave thanks for all the friends and family I have. I am truly thankful.

Hope all is well.

Scarf Exchange 2008

2008-11-29T11:08:00.009+10:30

This year I participated in the International Scarf Exchange put on by various spinning groups of Australia.

Last year it was held by the Gumeracha SA guild- where I first learned of it... so with the help of my friend Kathy I joined in on the fun this year. This year it was hosted by The Handweavers, Spinners and Dyers' Guild of Western Australia.
I got my scarf/extra yarn back today in the mail- so thought I should post my photos of the one I made. I'll get photos taken of my received items asap. :)

The fibre and one of the spindles I chose to use to spin the 150 grams.

Below shows the two spindles I used- the Pansy (by Spinsanity)
and The Magpie (by Yorkieslave Artworks).

This is the singles (^) which ended up being plied upon itself to create:
these 3 skeins- which when all put together - created this large bundle of yarn- shown with a full roll of paper/kitchen towels- for size comparison. :)
It was so soft and squooshy. I so hope the person receiving it loves it as much as I did. ( if you are reading this- please contact me- I would love to hear from you!)

Below you will see photos of the scarf I made in progress and then the finished scarf.

I crocheted the scarf in a pattern I found online, then added on my own free form 'fringe' on the ends- which I called gumtree leaves in order for the whole item to fit the "Outback" theme that was chosen for the year. :)

Hope you are well!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2008-11-01T07:30:00.005+10:30

Hi!
Just quick- here's RJ in his 'costume' (It's not the important part for him at this stage- it is only a means to an end [candy] for him) for Halloween- he wanted to be a Pirate cat- incorporating last year's costume- but it didn't work out- no tail could be found- I know I have seen it not that long ago- but it was hiding from us when it was needed, silly thing!

And then below is a closer picture- what a happy boy! ( just a few minutes before this he was hiding in the doorway from the neighbours who had come up to see our house decorations.) He did well for his takings considering we only visited 5 houses total. One neighbour even came up and gave him two mini Crunchy bars because we didnt' stop in and she was expecting us! (We didn't think they were home.)

Can anyone say "Sporticus"? That who he looks like to me in this close photo.

And last but not least- here are the carved pumpkins from this year. The littles one- the size of a large grapefruit- is from our garden- the only one that survived. The large one we bought a few months ago in a fruit and veg shop when pumpkin was at an ok price. Thankfully it stored well in the garage. :)

How was YOUR Halloween??

Hope you are well!

TWO MONTHS!?!!

2008-10-13T10:49:00.005+10:30

I simply cannot believe it has been over 2 months since I last blogged. Wow.
The sadder part is- is that I can't think of anything really to talk about. Well-I can think of things to share- but at the moment there isn't enough time for me to get it all done- so I would rather wait.

I *finally* got the shawl I made for my dear friend Crystal - nearly 11 months ago- sent to her!
So I want to post pics of the before and afters of it all. But that will require some picture finding that I can't get into.

I did several skeins of yarn= including my precious Gotland Lamb, during the month of September in response to a challenge Mandie had on Ravelry to spin her fibre and win a prize package of goodies from her. I adore her fibres so I had to spin to win! I didn't- but had a good time spinning what I got done- all on the wheel- am working on some EL from Jane on a spindle from Sally of Yorkieslave Artworks. I have lots of photos to share.
I was fortunate enough to get some spindles before our dollar dropped too badly against the USA dollar ( currenly 66c to the dollar! UGH! and Sniffle....boo hoo........) ....... at the current exchange it won't be any time soon that I will be purchasing again and I am dead angry with it- as she is going to have some FABULOUS ones coming up - I just know it! *sigh*
I will add links to the names I have mentioned- please go check out their newest items in spinning fun!
Meanwhile I need to get going. But at least I have done an update so any of you who only check me here and not on Ravelry will know I am still alive and kicking.
I have started to cut back on my Ravelry time- but I sure do like learning so much from others.
And getting to share what I know is fun too.
We also have worked the garden soil and even planted some stuff.......
will post about that soon too. I am keeping a positive outlook for it ALL>
Corn, pumpkins, watermelon, cucumbers,tomatoes, lots of zucchini ( 2 bushing varieties and one vining), nasturtiums and marigolds too......all started from seeds......the tomatoes and the marigolds are not progressing very much- not sure why- especially the tomatoes.. might not be warm enough yet for them is all I can figure. Marigolds are in too shallow of a soil I think ( egg cartons... done trying with those! ) OH and radishes- they went in first.. and Love in a Mist too- those are in the front- so nearly forgot them.

That's it for now- have a lovely fleece soaking - my first time at washing a sheep's fleece- wish me luck... hoping it will not felt since I have used only cold water. Am worried about too much movement though.... I seem to *need* to move it around. lol

Hope you are well. :)

PICTURE HEAVY Mt Pleasant SACSOS Fibre and Fleece Fair 2008

2008-08-11T20:53:00.012+09:30

We had a WONDERFUL time at the Mt. Pleasant SACSOS fibre fair- soooooo much to look at- so much to buy! Oh! if only I were a wealthy woman......
It was a mixed bag for the weather- windy with sunshine, rain, and hail even! We even managed to luck out with a non-rainy period so we could walk around Hahndorf ( a small town that boasts its German heritage) a little bit! We weren't in the right area for the sweets shop that carries US imports- darn it all ( Thanks again Robbie, for telling me about them)- but we did spend a long time in a clock shop.
RJ loves clocks and I love cuckoo clocks- this shop had lots of all kinds of nice clocks. We didn't purchase anything in the town as we were out of cash after the Fibre fair and the bakery ( called Lobethal Bakery- but we were in Woodside- !?!) we hit for breakfast - $2.20 for one choc. iced yeast donut! Plus nearly $3.00 each for a slice of apple strudel ( for DH ) and a danish pastry type thing that had dollop of apricot preserve in the middle for me. PLUS! loaf of onion and herb bread that was worth every cent of it's over $4.00 price tag. Crazy crazy crazy!!
But oh well- it's only once a year-ish!

Anyway- first person we bought from was Suzie Horne- she has Finnish Landrace- she was very low- not alot of choice this year- as the Littlehampton event cleaned her out pretty well....she even remembered us from LAST year- and we only talked with her- didn't get a chance to buy anything! She especially remembered RJB- that pleased me. :)
If you have not had the chance to touch Finn wool for yourself, please do ! You will love it I bet! It is VERY soft. I am continually amazed. I think it is my favourite fibre to date. Here are the photos for our goodies from Suzie's stand:

Below is a close up of some of the dyed Finn from Suzie.
Below are the two rovings- the purple is more pinky purple than this and the gold is more pale than this- but this is the best I could get out of my camera! lol

Here is the best photo of the green shades Dh bought:

Then we visited with, and bought lots from, Kathy Baschiera who has batts that she cards up- they are FABULOUS. Got some of those, then I went silly - RJB picked out a handpainted roving from Kathy ( in pinks and blues and purples!!!!!!! go figure!?) and I got several, will write them out with their pictures.
I have a goal to own one of each of the 17 colourways she does- eventually! lol
Here are some photos of what was brought home:
Above is one of 4 of tri-colour batts she did up HOT PINK, green, and gold. I'm a sucker for bright happy colours. Can't wait to see how this spins up.

Below you will find a few pics of the dark green batts she did with some Glitz fibre added in.

I LOOOO_OOOVE to touch this and photograph this- it is so soft and shiny and sparkly..*sigh* wish I'd gotten more... you can also see to the left of the green is a light bright sky blue- it is beautiful. IF I can get a picture of it to come up true I will post it. All that I took were no where near as pretty as it is in real life. This tiny peek is closer than I could get with any 'single' shots.

OK- and here are my real heart racers- the rovings...

This pic above shows the whole group- below you will see individuals of all but the pink/purple one.. that wouldn't photograph purple for me- just BLUE... so this is the best picture of that.

Above is one that was an experimental colourway she and her friend Hazel created called "Daffodil". She wants more yellow in it so this group she made was a one off thing. I *had* to have one! :) Below is "Flowering Gum". Brilliant name- brilliant colourway. I 'heart' it. :)

The above one is called "Outback"- fell in love with that one and Flowering Gum when I saw them at the Heart of the Hills market in Lobethal.

Below is one called- "Sharon"! Can you believe it?! I was bold and asked her a few weeks ago if she would ever try a yellow and red/rust/burgundy colour - and she did! And then when we arrive at the stand she shows it to me- and my name on it!!!! I was so embarrassed and flabbergasted as the same time! lol It was/is very flattering to have a roving colourway named after you... never in a million years did i think that would happen! (I hope she sold out. If not I will have to have more...) I really do hope it was well liked- I know I love the colours. I love where the yellow and the reddish colour meet...like on the lower edge of the picture. Just brilliant. ( Thanks Kathy- I am well and truly spoiled now! )

THEN! - THEN! I went over to the Lucinvale Farm stand and found more of FINN...... had some dyed locks i loved so got them -

and a bag of cream/white finn and a caramel colour I have not seen before- ohhh the pictures can't do justice to the perfect caramel colour of this fleece. The photos:
Above is the bag of white Finn- below is a lock taken from the bag. So SOFT.

And here is the caramel coloured one that I wrote about earlier, although it really doesn't show the right colour here- the ends of the locks are more what the colour is in sunlight:

We looked around a bit more only to find approx. 500g of white alpaca for $2! It felt nice and soft and seemed pretty nice for that! Not much VM in the one I chose!

THEN Richard bought a fleece for $4.....not sure what is 'wrong' with it- other than I think it might be last years shearing. From Eagleview Farm- it wasn't her fleece though- she was selling it from some she had from someone else- but it is 1.9 k of border x merino! Here's a peek:

Didn't even look at the Bennett and Gregor this year. Didn't seem to have alot in the spinning fibres- just the huge felting batts and yarns. RJB also got a little plastic canvas lolly bird ( had a lollipop in it's "beak"...) - it's cute.

Then with all of RJ's urging-it was off to Melba's. It was a success as RJ found his beloved construction vehicle toy with a chocolate bulldozer taped on! :) This time was a 'plow' sort of thing. Not sure what it actually is- but he loves it.

Hope you enjoyed the post and

hope you are well.

Happy August! Some Yarny Goodness

2008-08-09T07:21:00.009+09:30

A quick update before I go to get ready for a journey to Mt. Pleasant-

Here are some photos of recently spun yarns- all done on spindles with the "ply on the fly" method.. Most are from Jane's store and then there is my show of my first attempt at ply on the fly with some merino from Mandie's store. Oh, and some alpaca from Walking Wheel Studio, here in SA. ( No website as of this date...)

I am quite pleased with all of them and after posting them here I want to attempt putting them on Ravelry- where you can find me under
" Twirlygig ". I have not tried to post anything there picture-wise. But would love to be able to smart enough to figure it out! lol

We are off to Mt Pleasant for a SACSOS event- SA Coloured Sheep Owners Society. I hope to come home with a few nice raw fleeces and lots from Kathy B. And maybe if I have any left some Finnish Landrace (Finn) from Suzie Horne. I can never get to her stuff- well that's not true- last year I could- but it was too dark in the building to see! lol
Hoping this year will be better - lights-wise. RJB has had a terrible cold this whole last week....... every night he's woken up several times and sometimes not able to go back to sleep, etc.... it's been a long week. He is doing better this day. So guess we will venture out- He is looking forward to going to Melba's choc. factory which is up that way. Free samples of some of their products and chocolate and toys..a child's dream! lol They have FAB choc. covered coffee beans. But I reckon I have already talked about them so won't go on.
Without further ado - here are the yarns.

The grey yarn above is the Alpaca. The picture isn't quite big enough to really see the colours in it-will have to try to post a larger picture again later. Below are two small skeins of EL ( English Leicester) Moseley Wool- done in the "Peacock" colourway.

Above are the two skeins of 'peacock' - and one of the EL locks spun in the "sunset" colourway.

Below is the bag of roving/top that I am currently spinning- plus a finished skein in the "Sapphire" colourway- dyed over a grey EL base. Really soft! It was a surprise for me- as the roving itself feels quite firm and somewhat coarse- but has spun up very nicely. I am SO pleased and recommend the tops! And last, but certainly not least- is 100% merino, the Mind in Motion colourway from Mandie- it is soft and squishy and was so fun to spin- it was my first attempt at doing the "Ply on the Fly" method (the top twist/skein is the very first). The more I did it- the thinner my 3 ply has become-a slightly more useable yarn... more yardage anyway! lol
Here is the roving from which it came:

OK! I am off......

Hope you are well. :)

Completed Projects Sharing Time

2008-07-14T11:03:00.008+09:30

Here are some photos of items I have made and one of my Dh's hat he spun and knitted!
Plus a few of some recent additions to my supplies for one who makes yarn. ;)

Firstly, here is a bed doll that I made UMPTEEN years ago ( more than 15 is all I can say....)

well- I made her dress. I love the ruffles and making them is a fun challenge. Not that is it hard to do-but to keep adding them in- it gets more challengining the fuller the dress gets.

Next is Dh's hat... he spun up a Romneyx fleece in the grease ( our first fleece purchase that sat for a year before we actually were able to spin it to do anything with it. ) We carded it on hand carders and he spun it on his Ashford Traditional wheel. I don't know the details of the knitting part at all sorry to say. Hopefully he will write about it one day on his blog or on Ravelry.

But it sure is a nice hat- beautiful variations in that brown fleece.

Now are two pictures are of my shawl I was working on when it was so hot. Finished it in early May I believe it was about when the heat went away- lol- and it has been used ALOT over the last few moths/weeks.

It is made of a commercial mohair/acrylic blend yarn ( hint- if you have to frog this type of fuzzy yarn, it is NOT a fun or useful way to spend your creative time! Frogging is not kind to you or your yarn) using a pattern from a book from the library- by Jean Leinhauser and Rita Weiss. ( I think I spelled their names right. ) It is a really nice pattern to do- diamonds that make up a diamond. The darker peachy picture is the one that is closest to the real colours- but wanted to use the more green-y picture so you can see the pattern well.

Here is my WPI ( wraps per inch) tool my hubby made me.( He is not pleased with the name part- but I like it!)

Makes life much simpler for measuring them- although I am getting pretty good at eyeballing 1" of the yarn without any help. But wouldn't dream of not measuring it properly with a ruler.

The last few pictures are of some superwash roving we stumbled upon at the market in Hahndorf.
One is that vibrant GRAPE purple that just doesn't translate on camera- comes out blue almost always. This comes out purple on my screen- but it is very 'flaring'. But it really does almost hurt your eyes with how bright it is! :)

The other is a combination I can't seem to get enough of- yellow/orange-y rust colour.
To have some nice bright colours in the superwash ( washable wool for those who may be unfamiliar. :) ) is really good. I have not spun any superwash wool yet- either- so am looking forward to that too.
Thanks for looking- hope you are well!

Happy July!

2008-07-09T23:21:00.008+09:30

Not much time for talk- but want to get some pics posted.
First off is the Nyassa roving from EGMTK!
I have photos of it in original form,
opened out,

in progress (sorry it's a bit dark in the photo)

and all 100g (more or less ) of it after being spun on laceweight spindles from Spinsanity that were made just for me. (I am sooo happy I have them. They make me smile so much. I had taken photos but wasn't pleased with them and have not retaken them since. I will soon. )
and then the last photos are of the finished yarn- washed and skeined.

This is really subtle and nice. and soft!

It begs to be used for a project- just don't know what, for now.
It's 160.5 m / 175.6 yds & approx. 11 WPI.

Have more pictures to share-will get them up asap.

Hope you are well. :)

Trains as Promised

2008-06-27T07:08:00.008+09:30

Here are those pics finally- from the National Rail Museum in/near Adelaide.

This gives you a view of what one of the many aisles of trains looks like within the museum.

RJ outside on one of the old small machines that were used for repairs. ( No signage or anything is available- so I am just guessing here....)

In a second building this static display is what greets the eye when you first enter.

Even a railway kitchen is bigger than mine! LOL!

Part of the same train car as the kitchen view- the seating area was quite nice.

This is in the middle train yard area- what RJ refers to as a "Crashdown Crane" (breakdown crane) . He loves it- the perfect combination of construction site and trains.

Here is one of the large trains that I was speaking of- massive is the only word I can think of for them. Just amazingly massive.

Here is a view from the last carriage of the narrow gauge train they have called "Bub".

There were many photos to share- hope this small choice was interesting for you!

NOW! Back to our regularly scheduled blog.....

a small spinning update- NYASSA is done! : D
OH MY GOSH! Spinning lace weight on a spindle is just NOT my cup of tea although I love the resulting yarn - wow.
I will do a proper post on it shortly. ( It's been a long time in the making- a few more hours/days can't hurt! lol ) I need to get photos taken today of the end product before I post anyway. Can't say I love the colours- but I am proud of the yarn.

Will go for now. More fluff photos and yarn ones too, on their way. :)

Hope you are well.

Happy June!

2008-06-06T16:50:00.008+09:30

Lots to write about and share- so let's go!

First off I want to say that May 25 saw us once again at the National Rail Museum for RJ's birthday...
he turned 4 and had a fun day climbing in alot of trains and going on at least 4 if not 5 rides on a narrow gauge train they call "Bub" ( who doubles as Thomas for a week in July when they have the "Thomas the Tank Engine" show there......). So many trains there- if you are a train buff - it is a great place to see so many different types ( nearly all static and in the sheds of course ). Some have wheels that are taller than I am and it is just awesome to think how these came to be here in SA. I can't figure out how the boats didn't sink with one of these babies on there! lol
I will have to reduce the pics and put them in my next post. :) Wait for them! ;)

Then remember ages ago when I said I was making/ had made an apron for RJ? Well- here it is- modelled on the "Jamie O"of the future himself!

It is made of 100% cotton yarn that I had shipped over with me about 5 years ago..... love those colours. :)
The pattern actually made it the size for a child who's more the age of 10 or so- so I just adjusted it some. The neck strap was still way too long- but I have just whip stitched it with a fold in it- so it will be able to be adjusted out as he grows! My next project for him will be a hoodie! He loves them and I want to make him something but didn't know what until this pattern came along. Now- to find the right yarn. Wool is not the right choice, I feel- not without it being superwash....and I have none of that. I am very lucky he loves colour and doesn't want the dark colours that are so often sold in the shops.
I actually have 2 crochet projects going now as it is- plus am making squares to send away for comfortghans to be made with.....plus spinning that I am constantly obsessed with doing. I have several skeins that I got done on my wheel as well as my spindle..... and one that is now waiting to be plied ( Nyassa from YONKS ago that I have photos on the blog for-but because of it being laceweight I had stopped spinning it for MONTHS... well- it is all spun and now waiting to be plied. Had hoped to do it on my wheel but I have managed to pull ligaments or muscles or something in my right foot that i can hardly get around for a few weeks now...... I * think* it is getting better- but not sure- it is odd- the pain was first in the part where your foot and the bottom of your leg meets ( is there are word for that area?? - the 'other side of your heel'? ) and it bends there.......then it sort of has stuck there- but the major pain has managed to travel over to my outside ankle bone and now is at the achilles' tendon area?? My theory is that i strained something when I was going crazy on my wheel ( spun & plied 50 g in two hours or was that 100g....shoot i forget now.......) anyway- I think I may have hurt it then as it was shortly after that when it started to hurt- and then when it was feeling a tidge better I thought I would spin some again and maybe it would 'work' it out and then it got MUCH worse...... ( smart,eh? *Don't answer that!* ) I have not heard of anyone else having this problem- but then again I haven't asked on any of my spinning groups to which I belong. Too embarrassed. :( )

Below is the purples/greens/orange yarn I mentioned I was spinning for my bedjacket type thing I am going to attempt...

Yarn being dried one fine day, in our gum tree. :)

Then on May 31st we went to ......... **drum roll please!** .... Littlehampton, SA !!!! (about an hours' drive away...maybe a bit more... seems we never go the same way twice-lol! )
This was for a sale that was put on by the local spinners and weavers guild.
We had gone before and I am telling you- the night before I got barely ANY sleep= worse than a child at Christmas!!!!!!!!
And even despite my foot- had a super day. Got lots of FLUFF from Kathy Baschiera ( and we got to chat a little bit- she is always so busy - but she is so talented and has such lovely items for sale...I can totally understand the frenzy to get her fluff! )
I got 8 batts of yellow fluff -6 with glitz, 2 plain, RJ got 4 batts this time- two burgundy-ish ones with glitz also- and two greens...
and then I got two rovings hand painted by Kathy - but believe me- I could've bought SO MANY more!
I will post pics below of what we got
and to see what hubby got ( two different rovings more and 4 batts I believe) you will have to go to his blog! ;)

This one ( above ) is called Bizarre- it's so beautiful...

Below is "opal"- I saw this one hanging behind Kathy and while we were there things were SO nuts that we just left our things and came back for them to pay when it was more calm... she is a lovely lady to let us do that ( Thanks Kathy! ).... and thankfully this roving was still hanging there when we got back. For those of you who would like to own some of Kathy's beautiful fluff- she lives in the north/northeast of Adelaide...please contact me for her email and I will help you get in touch with her. :)

We also got to meet up with a fellow spinner and knitting friend from yahoo groups- Chris W. :) What a lovely, warm, wonderful lady! We felt like we'd known her for years. Makes me long even MORE to be in the hills.... it's much more like home there. *sigh* Alas- at this point in our lives - we are not millionaires and will not likely be buying a home in that area. Property is quite high right now and I want some ROOM to move. We are not moving only to find myself stuck like I am now- surrounded by people instead of trees. I am holding out for the right place... I KNOW it will show itself soon. Sooner rather than later I mean. :)

Above are Riley's batts- green and a sparkly burgundy... good taste for a 4 yr old- eh??

Below are the yellow batts I got..... i lurve them:

This one above shows the sparkle of the glitz she carded into them- below shows the colour a bit better I feel.

And the sneak peak of hubby's newly acquired stash:

Click here to go to his blog to see....
( when he gets the chance to post it... I can't say when they will be. lol)

Hubby got a new job he starts in 2 weeks- his Bday in this Sunday- and I got more fluff in the mail today from Jane in Northwest SA! She has English Leicester sheep and other wools she gets in ......raw and washed and dyed... Really nice fleeces overall- although the EL is a stronger fleece (much less soft than merino) it is still fun to spin and her dyed fleece are just so fun to spin. You can find her on eBay.au and you can also find her fluff at her own online store Mosely Park Home.

Need to go for now- lots more to write. And show! ( Yarn magazine goodies, my EL fluff and some new spinning that I am doing or finishing up... just for starters!)

Hope you are well.

April 16,2008 - In Memorium- Jade

2008-05-09T10:09:00.004+09:30

Farewell to a beautiful soul~

On April 16 of this year ( 2008) we had to have our beloved dog Jade euthanised.

I have not felt right about posting something to my blog until I did a memorium for Jade- and have not been able to bring myself to the task of going through photos to do a proper post dedicated to her.

I am still not sure I am able- but am going to at least do this and then perhaps something more later.

I can hardly believe it has been more than a month since I posted. I *will* do better this year.

We have no more pets to lose and since Autumn is here the weather is much nicer- perhaps we will get out to do more things to share about.

Until then-

Hope you are well.

All Things in Moderation, My Dear

2008-04-06T08:22:00.004+09:30

Well Hello!
It's been ages- not alot to write about really- we had a 2 week heatwave at the beginning of March that I just sat and sweated through mostly. ( We really need to get A/C.) Didn't spin or crochet much even. Still got some fluff from eBay cos well... that's my addiction I guess. I meet the nicest people through fluff buying too. :)
I have, since the heatwave ended, restarted working on my mohair shawl and is nearly finished ( it is a lovely HUGE one! yay! ) and Thursday I started an apron from cotton yarn that RJB picked out from my stash....finished it up on Friday... It worked up quickly and easily- will post the link with a picture of the apron once I get myself together! lol

As for spinning- well- have spun a little alpaca on both my spindle and -the spinning wheel I won from eBay last year..... the biggest problem is that I only have one bobbin apparently! I will need to look properly in the craft room (eeeeek!) as i know it came with carderss and stuff- so maybe there was a lazy kate with bobbins that I don't remember. Otherwise I am thinking I will have to sell it..which is a shame cos I really like it- but it seems my alternative is to pay a woodworker to recreate one from the one I have- and I shudder to think what that would cost! But it was great fun to spin the alpaca on the wheel- so much quicker it is scary! I could see myself happily spinning away for HOURS on this thing and making yarn to sell. I still prefer my drop spindles- but am appreciating the wheel even more now! ;)

Jade- our dog, is not doing the best in the health dept.. We've taken her to the vet - blood in her urine- and they did a urine spec test and then the next visit did blood tests- and even after $300 + or visiting and 'work'- they still don't know what is wrong. They are thinking bladder tumour- but can't say it is for sure. So she is on some medication that is a quarter of a tablet every other day.... she is fine most times..... seems to be sleeping LESS actually..... but she shivers sometimes and still has the blood in the urine-although at times is less than other times. She was first on an antibiotic- but that didn't seem to really help. :(

Yesterday ( Sat April 5) we went to a 'fair' that was put on by Willunga Waldorf School and it was focused on children and showing off their school..... wow! They did a great job- RJB had a wonderful time playing, making a felt ball, had fresh made apple juice, and for me the best part- besides 4 hours in the open fresh air......they had a little children's cafe and as far as we could tell- ALL the food was vegetarian friendly! How cool is that?? It was $2 for a plate that you could choose 3 items from the layout and there was ALOT ALOT ALOT to choose from! We spent $7 to share a curry meal btwn DH and I mostly and felt if we'd spent the same money at the children's cafe that we would've done better! lol
It was a sunny nice day- small breeze, not too hot - not too cool.......
We were not familiar with the Waldorf part of it- but we were impressed by the 'curriculum' that we saw- they really have an emphasis on creativity in learning. Brilliant.
Now- if we can just find a home in Willunga area so we can send RJB there........
as of now it is much too far to drive each day.....and I am not sending my 5 yr old on a bus by himself! ( or 4.5 or whatever age he will be when he starts school......).
He just had the best time playing in the sand with the other children. "School" is going to be a very positive experience for him I believe. If we can get him in there anyway.

The Easter bunny found us too- and you know what we found out?- chocolate and oriental flavoured ramen noodles do NOT taste nice together. ( funny what happens when one is not watching your toddler eat! ) So- all those thoughts of "maybe we could get him to eat if we put chocolate on it".....they can be silenced- it won't work... well- not on oriental ramen noodles anyway!

Now- before I go- I need to explain my title..... in the last few weeks I have been getting 'spammed' on my blog comments.... so I have put my comments on moderation. I will have to approve them before you see them on the blog. I am really sorry for this...if/when the crud are found and the weird posts stop I will go back to normal. But for now.....PLEASE post a reply and write as much as you want...... just know it might be a short while until your post will show up.
It should never be more than 24 hours as I check my hotmail addy daily. :)

Sorry for the long time not writing.....will get back into the swing of things soon I hope - since it is officially Autumn and the clocks have even gone back today. I love cool weather. More each year. I miss snow- ( come on Snow! ).... and I miss green grass and fresh air.

oh By the way-Happy March, Happy Easter, Happy April, and HappyAutumn ( or Spring in the Northern Hemisphere !

Happy Leap Year Day!

2008-02-29T20:28:00.003+10:30

Is that right- is that what we 'd call this day?? Anyway- happy 29th of Feb- which only happens once every 4 years so I couldn't let the day go by without saying something!

Currently we all 3 have a cold- I say "a cold" because it is the SAME cold all shared among us.
I was the last to get it..... RJ has fared the best- the young whippersnapper! ;)

Not alot getting done craft -wise- no spinning even though we have been having cooler weather-
working on another shawl on a pattern I just LOVE....will share that when it is all done. I did a pair of mitts in some leftover acrylic yarn and they turned out cute and very VERY EASY. Now to find some proper colour wool - spin it and make a pair of mitts for my friend Crystal. I told her I would make a pair- from a different pattern than the one I tried- I think this is a better one- but haven't gotten myself together. And now that the first day of Australian Autumn is about to hit us ( tomorrow)- the temps are set to go up into the low - mid 30's- which is in the high 80's low 90's for the Fahrenheit crowd. I am so ready for summer to be gone, thank you.

OK better go,
thanks for reading.

Hope you are well!

Boiled Eggs!

2008-02-18T16:12:00.005+10:30

OK- I have one of those TNT ( tried and true) kitchen hints I just HAVE to share....

Want this done easily?

Then try this!

Once your eggs have boiled and have cooled enough to handle them at least- pour off any remaining cooking water and then put/hold the lid on tightly and >>>> SHAKE <<<<>

The shells you see empty in there are the shells of 4 eggs- two of which had only a fews specks of shell to rinse off- and the other two barely had their shells clinging to them when I picked them up! :)

Try it yourself next time- meanwhile I am heading back to make egg salad for our dinner tonight- it is 35° c here today! This chicky is NOT cooking! ( Well- just to boil the eggs which i did earlier when it was cooler in the house....)

Take care and let me know if you try this hint and how it works for you-please??

Hope you are well.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2008-02-16T07:54:00.007+10:30

Wishing you the happiest, sweetest day ever!
(ok- I'm 2 days late....sorry! I really do/did mean it! :) )

Hope you are well!

At the Speed of Light!

2008-02-09T14:20:00.000+10:30

Lordy! How fast can the days go by?
I didn't even get to wish anyone a Happy February and it was past the time when Punxatawny Phil was to prognosticate the coming of Spring ( Or 6 more weeks of winter- which was the case this year... good Phil! ) - we missed it by a mere 20 mins or so- but in our time it was *late* in the pm of the 3rd of Feb!
I still didn't get photos taken of my alapaca fluff ( I think the site is back up though- tizteazles.com ) - and have now worked and FINISHED ( woo hoo! nothing like a 'deadline' [I prefer to call them finish lines] to keep you moving ) an art yarn contribution to the "Circle of Wagons" spin Challenge issued by Pluckyfluff to benefit a sick friend in Florida, USA named Holly ( or HollyEQQ) who happens to be a very good friend of my friend Mandie of Ewe Give Me the Knits!

I will give more details on what I am talking about soon- but for now want to try to get photos downloaded on my blog so you can see the yarn before the challenge is over! ( Ends Feb. 9, 2008 in USA time for entries, but voting is the next day....).
All entries are available for viewing at The Yarn Museum and voting for your 'favourite' is at Pluckyfluff's Blog on Sunday the 10th of Feb,2008.
Then all the yarns created are going up for auction at Sandy's website ( another friend in the USA ) with the money raised to be given to Holly to help with her expenses to get well again!

The 'theme' was "Circle the Wagons" - which is the phrase being used to show Holly how we fibre folks ( and everyone who loves them!) are bringing ourselves all in a circle to help her 'defend/fend off ' her illness. Just like the Pioneers of yesteryear did against threats to their wagon trains and their well-being. Hope I explained that right/ well enough.
I think it is an awesome effort and am glad to be a part of it all.
There is lots to see and buy at Sandy's website to help Holly. Please go take a look!

So here is my entry:

This is my first attempt at 'Art Yarn' and found it to be challenging yet fun!
I've named the yarn "Smoke Signals for Holly"- messages of health and well being sent to her from the fibre community- even all the way from Australia!
The first singles is a 100% merino roving that was dyed by Mandie of Ewe Give Me The Knits!, then for the the plying singles I've used shades of brown wool which represent the wood of the fire & of the wagons, as well as the earth- then added in some polar fleece 'indian blankets", white wool for puffs of smoke, and some cantalope ( Rockmelon) coloured merino for the 'lick of fire' . ( Don't worry - I always put the smoke puffs between the 'fire' and the blankets! lol!)
It's over 63 yds. / 57 mtrs and weighs 2.25 oz/ 65 grms.

and here are some other photos of it, to give a better view:

Two of the 'raw' ingredients:

While it is still on the niddy noddy, waiting to then be measured and weighed:

By RJB's wagon:

The finished 'artwork':

and here is RJB posing with the ingredients...

( hey- had to get him in here somehow-right? LOL! He has decided every photo being taken really should have him in it somehow! lol)

Thanks for looking- if you see this in time- go vote for mine!

Hope you are WELL.

End of the month already!?

2008-01-31T11:57:00.001+10:30

It's already the 31st of January... I can hardly believe it. I missed wishing everyone a Happy Australia Day on the 26th of January. It was a long holiday weekend for us and we kept busy.
More on that later....

The Tiz Teazles site is down at the moment- will again update once it is back on track. Sending my heartfelt wishes to Dawnii and family at this difficult time.

I still haven't gotten pics taken of the fluff from there...... although I have started spinning it. One of the shades of purple...it is sooo soft. I am having to pick out quite a little bit of dried vm- but nothing too bad and because it is dry it is easy to pick out before or after the spin happens.
The resulting yarn is so soft-it is worth the effort...if this stuff is even 19 micron I would be shocked! It is the softest coloured fleece I've ever felt.
Amazing.
I *will* try to get photos posted of things soon- I am fighting the effects of cloudy but not stormy humid days on my hands. Plus I have bruised my left hand... the bones that are below the place where your fingers connect... the hand equivalent of the ball of your foot- but don't know what it is called- been going to look it up but don't remember while i am at the computer because it doesn't hurt while typing! lol I have never heard of anyone else having this phenomenon... if you have- please speak up! I would love to know the name of it- or at least to know I am not the only one!

Wash is almost ready- so better go- it's a lovely day in the weather dept.- only about 25° c today. YES! I can live with that. Very windy- gusty windy I mean to say....which should lend to easy drying of clothes but is scaring me to death over the roof thingy we put up to shade the side of the house from the sun... it sounds like it is going to fly off any time..which it could- but will take part of the house with it as it is tied onto the roof somehow. ( Don't ask me- I let DH deal with it! )

Hope you are well!

TIZ TEAZLES! available for your admiration

2008-01-22T09:30:00.000+10:30

Heads up! As of this writing the Tiz Teazles website is up again! :)
YAY!

There is so much information available there and some of the most GORGEOUS yarns you have ever seen!
If you want to support these lovely folks but don't spin or do yarn crafts - you can always buy yarn or fluff and have them send it to me! LOL! There is nothing on that site that I don't like! OMGOSH!

A special heads up to folks who may own their own fibre bearing animals- they do fibre prep and yarn spinning for you, if you are so inclined! I can tell you from the tops I have received that the top is lovely and open and will be a dream to spin.

Sorry to rave on and on- but I just adore having coloured alpaca fibre available for me to spin- I know there *has* to be others who love it and want it also. They have some gorgeous mohair I am looking into as well now. oh- and Dawnii does her darndest to get you the best shipping prices she can too! I am always amazed how well she packages my fluff!

Please consider purchasing from these lovely folks.
It' s been said that how (and where) you spend your money says alot about you.
Spending it here will make you feel and look good! ;)

I am still intending to post photos of my recent arrivals- perhaps later today or tomorrow!
But for now- here is another viewing of what I got at the beginning of December 2007-

There's a little bag with some samples of the purple-y alpaca I got, sitting on top, and we also got a large amount of what is called "Jaffa" -which is honestly the most beautiful deep brown fibre I have ever seen. Just the plain brown without any additional glitter or light orange in it would be fabulous to own- it is so rich and lustrous.
Yummmm.

Hope you are well!

A lovely shawl for COOLER weather!

2008-01-19T08:18:00.000+10:30

I finished my shawl several days ago- but am just getting around to posting pics.......ah well.....it's been tooooo darn hot to even think about wearing something this fluffy and warm around one's shoulders anyway!

The pattern is from Yarn Magazine issue 8- right smack dab in the center of the magazine. This is the real colour of the yarn- forgive the messiness we live in...... we are creative people you know ......LOL.... this photo shows the pattern pretty well too.

Sarah Golder is the pattern creator with whom I had the priviledge of being able to email to help me with my confusion on the pattern. ( It was self-inflicted confusion- honestly- "I Just Needed to Know WHY....."- I wonder if other crocheters/fibre people are like that- needing to understand a pattern and not just accept it 'as is' and go with it ....once I understood the "WHY" the shawl was finished in no time- I am so weird! lol)
The yarn used was a commercially made MOHAIR yarn called Sentiments........I think it is Moda Dea. Because it was a bit thicker than the handspun originally called for I needed more yarn but that didnt' surprise me and thankfully it was rather affordably priced! :) (Special thanks to hubby who stopped in the shop to get me two more balls of it- don't throw him in that briar patch you know? ;) )

I can't tell you how awesome this feels- it is SO soft.
There is a sparkle thread in it that I have tried to capture...

and the purples are a challenge as always in photography. They kept wanting to come out shades of blue more than purple. I love working with variegated yarns- it's so fun to see how the shading and patterning develops. :)

I also have been very fortunate to have my alpaca fluff arrive yesterday- no pics yet- but VERY soon! I am soooooooo happy with it - I could just squeal. :)
The website for TizTeazles isn't up yet( but click on the link anyway just to see,please?) - Dawnii and family got affected by the flooding they had nearer Christmas time and she is working to recover from that. She currently has some yummy fluff like I got ( alpaca) on eBay.au...... at only $5 /100g - it is a pure delight to know you are helping them to take care of their animals and doubly so since they were hit with the flood.
Please pop on over and see if there is anything on eBay.au or if the website is up - buy buy buy from this lovely lady and family- you will be happy you did!

I am so behind in posting it is just silly- so won't bore anyone with much detail of the holidays.
We had nice ones- they went much too quickly and were much TOO HOT- we didn't get out and about too much. We*did* get to Victor Harbor and had a nice time there as always.
There was a 'carnival' type event going on when we arrived- figured it was for the school holidays. RJB thoroughly enjoyed the whole atmosphere and loved going on the car ride-

but was too short for the merry mixer/scrambler ride and wasn't interested in going on the Ferris Wheel for some reason! Ah well- with tickets costing $5 and $6 per adult for rides and $4 for the children's rides- it was for the best.
He did a 'pick a fish' game- for $4 he got to net out 3 plastic fish ( like we used to do ducks minus the net and it was only one duck) and their combined numbers on the bottom added up to a prize number- and his was ........... a brightly coloured 12" velour snake! woo hoo! He talked about it all for weeks- and every weekend wants to go back. He took his new digital camera and got some pics taken. :) Will show you some of those too.

The carnival from a distance- by RJB ( age 3)
The horse drawn trolley that goes across to Granite Island- photo by RJB.

Since it has been so hot lately- spinning has taken the back seat- and crocheting has taken over- when I have the time! I finished the project that I made with my handspun pink and blue yarn- waiting for photos of that too..........

and have started a CAL ( crochetalong) that is for a Valentine's Day themed mystery item- but with the quantity and how far we are- it is obvious it will be a afghan/throw...not sure of the dimensions- so not sure what to call it. It's time consuming so I am not far along and am two weeks behind the CAL- but I will get it done eventually.

Am doing some spinning on the cooler days- a grey wool that I have a gift project in mind for..

send me good vibes for getting it done before the USA winter is over-please?? lol

Enough for now- hope to get back in the swing of things and get more regular postings done.

Hope you are well.

Happy New Year! ! !

2008-01-01T08:49:00.000+10:30

Wishing everyone a HEALTHY HAPPY PROSPEROUS New Year!

Hope you are well.

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-26T07:18:00.001+10:30

Hope you are well.

Sunny Sunday Morning

2007-12-16T06:56:00.000+10:30

Not feeling very 'talkative' but know it has been a few days since I posted.
Thought I would share some photos:
Riley wanted a PB&J sandwich Friday...he then proceeded to get upset with me for no apparent reason- ( is this supposed to happen when they are THREE!??! I figure I will not last his teen years if this is what it is like at age 3!!)- so I was being smart and said "Fine! Get your own PB&J sandwich!" To which he replied -after some thought- "Fine! Me get my OWN PBJ!" I had gotten the bread out already and had the PB jar open but he ended up doing the rest! And here is the photo to prove it- there is about a quarter of a jar of pB on there, but he did it! lol This is the first attempt at jelly/jam- he followed it up with dropping more on the counter than the bread- but eventually got quite a hefty amount on there- he ate it all but the crusts- they were pretty well laden with PB- so not sure why he didn't eat it- but the birds love his crusts - so I didn't mind too much. :) He helps me ALOT in the kitchen- loves to make brownies, etc.- so I truly do think he will hold his own in the kitchen one day. :) Boy will I be proud. This photo was taken by DH yesterday- we had a slight shower of rain and everything looked new and luscious- if you click on the photo and see it 'full sized" - the detail is amazing and is truly a fab photo (IMHO)... this is a potted cherry tomato.
I would like to share some photos from Granite Island from last weekend ( already!)- but don't feel i have the time quite yet to spend downloading them all and writing about it.
IF we get done today with all the "Must Do's"- then we might make a trip down today to Victor Harbor and maybe back over to Granite Island. :) It's meant to be a lovely COOL 19°C ( about 68°F) there today... yay! I am so ready for spring to stay or autumn to reappear.... skip summer thanks.

Still working on the pink/blue crochet project...NEARLY done! Won't be there for Christmas now I am afraid.

OK-7:30 am- and I am off to start my MD's!

Hope you are well....write to me and tell me you are! ( or if you aren't- I need to know that too!)

No Whirly Wednesday Day....

2007-12-12T22:02:00.000+10:30

.....But I did get a few rows of crochet done... on a project I am working on as a Cmas present-I *will* get it done in time- but will it make it into the mail and to them in time??

This is made from that lovely merino that I plied with a blue fuzzy commercial yarn not too long ago. The colours are coming out nicely in the item too.

And also wanted to share this photo of the zucchini from our garden-

I made a really tasty zucchini and stuffing casserole that was pretty quick and easy. Even Dh ate a big plateful and he not real keen on squash. Email me or leave me a comment and I will be glad to share with you the recipe. :)

Quick post tonight- after 10 pm anyway- but just want to sit and vegetate awhile.

Life with no daytime naps is not always that much fun. Hard to get things done.

PS)

I have asked Santa for amazingly dyed alpaca fleece. He said yes. To over a Kilo of it. :D

I am very happy. Very HAPPY. :)

Hope you are happy and well.

Saturday Update

2007-12-08T07:37:00.000+10:30

We are on our way to Victor Harbor today to see some Christmas tree display DH read about and to walk Granite Island... and of course- see the train if we can find it at the station, but wanted to share a few things before we set sail...
Here is my latest F.O. :
a dish scrubbie- my own design. Thanks to my friend Crystal who sends me/us cotton yarn at intervals through out the year.. I SO LOVE all these colours together - not sure if I will be able to use this one- do you think I should just hang it on the Christmas tree?? giggle....

The next thing I have to share- OMG! I have not fully understood wanting to "get nekkid and roll" in a pile of fibre before now- but *now*- NOW I understand! Maybe it was a weird morning ( a good morning compared to the one before), or just a moment of weakness- I don't know....but yesterday my (700g) package of handdyed carded into three (3) colours and a bit of glitz ALPACA tops arrived. It took all my might to pull out the bag of fluff- Dawnni of Tiz Teazles
( Note: the website is down for the moment- once it is back up- I will post the link again....)
had jammed so much fluff into that post satchel... I couldn't even have guessed how much was in there. Ohhhh my gosh- 'like butta'!- this is soooooo soft- SO freakin' beautiful and SOFT! I could nearly imagine myself rolling in it!

I can hardly wait to show it to you......
( Above: a bag full! Below: closer- can you see the sparkle? )

(Above: the whole package! Below: close up of samples- I want it ALL! )

and of course, the photos do no justice and you can't feeeeeeeeeeeel it for yourself.... but you will have to believe me- if you have not felt alpacafleece before......it is so darn soft you can barely feel it when you touch it! ohhh wish I could describe it. Alas, for you, it is ALLL MINE!
lol She was much too kind and generous and sent me the unsold remainder of the "Candy" coloured fleece- with samples of the other colours she has. THIS is going to be an expensive week or next- whenever I can get ahold of her again...
because I am going to get SO MUCH more from her......I think Santa's sleigh will be very light but very FULL when he arrives here this year and has my wish list goodies on it. giggle.
Seriously- if you want any- you might end up having to get it from me- as I fully intend to buy ALOT of this from Dawnni. What can I say?- "Hello- my name is Sharon and I am a fibre-a-holic..."...
She has a farm where they keep abused and abandoned animals and the money from the sales goes to help them- and being an animal person and *so wishing* i had the property and the emotional strength to do what she does....(and the finances to do it as well)- this way my money will help another beautiful soul do what I simply cannot- and I get to have some fluff to play with and enjoy as well. Please go and check out her website and purchase some of her beautiful items if you are so inclined. As for the fluff- well..... I'll race ya! ;)

On the garden front- my zucchini's are doing fabulous- and get this- I have 3 different varieties growing! Reg. green, a stripey one that looks like a marrow, and YELLOW! They are so gorgeous. Those and the tomatoes look to be the only real 'crops' that are going to work out this year.... keep intending to get the American pumpkin style pumpkin seeds ( for jack o lanterns) in - and a few of the cantaloupe/rockmelon seeds I saved..... and also some replacement cucumber seeds- as the ones in the front soil just couldn't survive (*sigh* back to the drawing board on how to make that soil arable!)....even the pumpkin plant is struggling... despite lots of mulch and watering- the soil there is just so dry (and we added in lots of compost before we planted this year...) - I guess I am going to have to stick with flowers that love dry hot arid soil. ( I am not a cactus person! ) OK- off to get the day going-

hope you are well!

Quick CAL Scarf Pic

2007-12-06T08:09:00.000+10:30

Wanted to share a Finished Object- it is a Mystery Crochet A-Long - they called it a scarf when we were done. ;

I call it a decorated collar. lol

Hard to see- but there is a flower in the front 'v' part where the ends overlapped.

I did it in a pink yarn as since it was a mystery I didn't want to use my handspun- not knowing for sure what thickness or yardage would be best for it. If I made it again I think alpaca or silk blend or anything that drapes nicely would be ideal for this... it's not for warmth I would say.

Only 4" ( 10 cm ) wide, too long for your neck and you can't wrap it around since the ends are tied down......but it has real potential as an addition to a plain blouse (with shorter fringe, mind you)if made with silky rayon, bamboo, or the like yarns.

Anyway- here it is.... did very little spinning yesterday. Nothing to show anyway. But at least you can see this. :)

Hope you are well.

Happy December!

2007-12-01T07:40:00.000+10:30

Woo- November was a fast month...December already!

Haven't been able to get my thoughts organized for very long lately. Not sure what is up.
So I haven't written here.

I have acquired some LOVELY fibre ( via eBay and Mandie at EGMTK! 3 of which are shown here)-

"Tequila Moon" from EGMTK! ( above) - 22 micron merino wool~

(Left) this is a bamboo fibre top handdyed by Mandie- in a colourway she called

"Sublime Exchange"

And this one is Optim ( fine silky wool- amazingly soft!)- and is called "Raynbow1"
over the last few weeks- (some yarn to try dyeing too- a future project...!)- and have done some spinning but not much- not even last Wednesday.
I *did* crochet- a small mystery CAL ( crochetalong)... I'll finish it today ( only a flower to go) and then can post a pic of it... I am not even sure what it is called..... maybe a ponchette?

I think I will be sending it off as a gift to someone- as I think I will look ridiculous in it. We'll see.
No- make that *I'll* see-lol!

It's been quite warm over the last few days- so that might explain my lack of spinning, etc.
After tomorrow we are to have a small break in the temps and then go back up later in the week.

Two more picutres to share:
Rocks at the beach.

A bunny shaped one-found as seen complete with small 'tail' made of a seaweed bubble!

a string of rock flowers.

There was a link posted on a yahoo group board called "ANZweavespin" about a group/movement/idea of making rock formations on the beach, then posting the pics to be seen. ... Dh really loves this idea so while at the beach last evening- we walked to the rocky area and got some ideas going.

Patterns/pictures.... many choices- will take HOURS- thankfully RJB loves the beach now!

This is just a 'warm up' piece. Will post the link to the project site one Dh is up and I can ask him for it.

Hope you are well.

Beautiful Sunday Morning

2007-11-25T07:17:00.000+10:30

G'Day!
Here for your viewing is my latest spun wool from EGMTK!....

It's called Mind Warp and has not only been spun but also used! Photos later of the project. :)
Here's the before roving:

Beautiful shades of blue,green, and a divine indigo colour... I LOVED spinning this colourway.

Then here are the spun ones- on my Turkish again...

The finished skein- all washed and ready:

So this was a finished singles- at about 13 WPI- I forget the yardage now. over 300 I believe. Soft as too- this 100% merino that Mandie has for her current dyed rovings is SO soft - I am SO spoiled!
It is one of the neatest things- to make and use your own yarn. Something earthy and basic about it- even if my colours are anything but! LOL! I look forward to creating MORE with my yarns. :)

I also have some photos to share of the house buildings on the' other side of the fence' ( the grass is NOT greener as they have none- well- one house does and it is much nicer than ours- which is dead already due to water restrictions). If you suffer from claustrophobia- you might not like these pictures!

This is the house at the end of the street- on the other side of the fence, of course!

Here's for you to see how close the other houses are- that fence is only a regular sidewalk's width away from the side of our house (what's that- about 3 feet?) - then there is the corner of the newest finished house there- and to the right is the latest started...they have virtually no space in their back yard and side area- who knows how much frontage they will have- only a few metres I am sure. Our garden area is spacious in comparison, although we have little to no side yard/garden to speak of....

This is the last little bit of 'skyline' we have left- there is another house scheduled to go in that space btwn. the house across from us and that red roofed house, so it is only a matter of time until we will no longer be able to see anything much unless we look straight UP!

( yes- we are searching for a more country located home...)

Some 'nature' shots to share- in our back garden...

This is my butterfly bush- OH how the New Holland honeyeaters love them and how I love watching them sip the nectar from the tiny flowers! Believe it or not I really cut the right side of this bush back pretty far ( I am never as brutal as a good gardener should be...)- and it is right out there with new growth nearly as far as the old wood. Though it is hard to see- there are lots of buds on this buddleia ! :)

This is our teeny little red Bottlebrush tree...it bloomed! It is
only about knee/thigh- high and it bloomed! I can hardly
wait for it to get big enough to REALLY
bloom and be able to take photos to share- how the
little flowers come out is like fireworks
in slow motion- LOVE it! :)

Out of time for now-have a few more photos to share- will try again later or tomorrow!
Hope you are well.

Happy Thanksgiving 2007!

2007-11-23T07:15:00.000+10:30

Wishing all my friends and family a very Happy Thanksgiving. ( OK- so it's Friday here- but technically it is still T-Day in the USA as of my writing this....)
Wishing we could be together at this special time of year.
And for those of you going shopping on Black Friday......I love you, but I think you are CRAZY! @@
LOL!

I am thankful for~ my family, friends, fur bearing animals (giggle), spindles and spindlemakers, and to not work retail ANYMORE!

Now- to start getting Christmas things out and start decorating before the 90°f weather starts moving back in on us. 'Tis the season........

Falalalalalalala
and all that stuff.....
:)

Hope you are well and well - fed! ;)

Nature Photos

2007-11-19T09:08:00.000+10:30

Here are some pictures taken in the last few months I've wanted to share but hadn't yet.... some were taken by me- some by DH...
all are gifts from Nature.

A daylily- a neighbour was getting rid of hers-so we took them. :)

A storm cloud that never became a storm- but sure is AMAZING- please click on the photo to see it full-sized- the depth and texture is worth the wait. ( Taken by DH)

A torch lily/red hot poker flower/kniphofia

The guardsman's watchtower- sand fun at the beach. ( taken by DH)

Not sure if there is a proper term for this foamy frothy surf water- but the texture is great-another one worth clicking on to see larger. 'Frozen' water droplets and all. :) ( taken by DH)

Now- here are two that are not nature photos... but nice to look at-

Banana Bread- fresh out of the oven!

Holiday smiles to you !

Hope you are well!

Frying Friday

2007-11-16T13:40:00.000+10:30

Ugh- it's hot. I do NOT like summer weather.

OK now for the positive things - some more photos to share.

None of fiber if you can believe it!

I have done some crocheting and spinning- but nothing I can show here, now.

however, a new spindle arrived from the USA.....

it is a little white church from an eBay seller called Wooly Knitpicks. She has affordable unique spindles- I have only just gotten this one- so am not sure how well it will spin- but I did try a bit of wool that was included and it spun ok. My only real complaint is the that the hook arrived bent over- but I carefully bent it back and seems to be ok.
I took a pic or two this morning- so will share those:

the full length- it has a green agate stone on the end of the shaft.

and close up. Love the purple sparkles that she painted on it. Just a fun spindle. I intend to hang it on the Christmas Tree this year. :)

Here's also a picture of a bird bath:

What? Did you think I would mean something traditional??? No way!

Not at this household!

This is a Spotted Dove having a bit of a drink in the old baby bath. It wasn't meant to be out there for that purpose- but it has stayed out because the bigger birds CAN drink and have a splash about in it if it has water in... we dont' always keep water in that one- but we do the old dog bowl one- so there is virtually always a drink available to them.

Too warm to sit here any longer- but at least there is something new to look at. :)

Hope you are well!

Sunset Skyscape Yarn

2007-11-11T10:17:00.000+10:30

I managed to get a few photos taken before they left for the beach so here I present my latest yarn- 50g ( approx) of 2 ply wool.....plied by the "wind two singles into a ball then spin/ply them together" method.

You've seen the batts before but here is a reminder.

Here is it on the branch drop spindle :
that I recently got from Aubelsbeth on eBay ( USA )- I HIGHLY recommend their spindles-please check them out- really super items - not just spinning either- wonderful handmade jewelry and more- these are fellow SCAdians (well- i am not one anymore actually- but in my heart I am!) so you can be sure they are doing beautiful custom work with true quality and with great prices to boot!

I spun the singles on a beautiful dark mahogany coloured one called (love this name) Saucy Bowl ( will show you later- the camera is at the beach now....) -also from Aubelsbeth, but had to ply on the Branch one as it has a longer shaft for me to wrap all the yarn. This is just 50g and it is quite full!

Then I skeined it, the dh and son washed it and then let it dry. I did the Wraps Per Inch and length but can't recall it at the moment. *sigh* I believe the WPI averaged out to be 8. It's a beautiful colourway- mango and pink and the most amazing shade of purple mixed with a touch of the lovliest bright blue...when it was done all I could think of was the sunset sky and clouds on a bright day. Dh came up with Cloudscape- I 'fine tuned' it to Skyscape this morning! I've just finished 25g more- spun the same way- and will do another 25 today if possible, then ply it the same way to have 100g of the same yarn.

Here's the skein up close as well. :)

If anyone is interested in getting batts of wool from Kathy- please email me and I will get you in touch with her-as she doesn't have an online shop- but will send digital pics., etc. and the best part is her prices are FABULOUS!

I got some handdyed rovings from her for only $8 per 100g and at the shows her batts are currently selling for $5 per 100g!!!! It's like being at the 'penny candy' counter when you are at her show booth- as you can mix and match all you like and her colours are just fun and diverse.

Her blends are always my favourites- but the solids she does often times are the complementing colours she has used in her multiblend batts. Brilliant. And if you have not done any spinning from a batt- let me tell you- they nearly self draft! The Saucy Bowl wanted to spin mostly a thickness that at 2 ply has left it to be a sport weight yarn- which is just what I was wanting- and it all came together very quickly.

OK- better go get some other work done- then maybe take a small nap! :)

Thanks for looking and hope you are well!

Strike A Pose- There's Nothing To It....

2007-11-11T09:04:00.001+10:30

I just had to share this with you-
there was a crested pigeon in the back yard sunning herself two or so days ago.
She's surrounded by bits of bread- but not interested in eating- just the sun. ;) ( If you click on the photo to make it bigger you can see what fluffy underfeathers (down?) she has. Just guessing on the 'she'-by the way- as there is not alot of colouration difference btwn. males and females that I can see. )

It's always startling to walk passed the window and see this. The first time I saw this I was sure something horrible had happened......they don't call our one magpie variety "Butcher Birds" for nothing...

but even with knowing this is what they are doing- there is still always a moment where my heart skips a beat then the brain remembers.

I'll search through pics to see if I can find one of one upright so you can see. I know I took some the other day in the rain... what hoot - these birds are not particularly waterproof!LOL! *** Didn't find a dry bird photo- but here s/he is soggy ( and caught in mid blink- don't you just hate that when it happens?? ):

Garden update:

The zucchini plants are just growing like weeds this week- glad for the rain and now sunshine I guess! :) We have several tomato plants with small fruit and lots of blossoms.

The strawberries are coming along fine- still haven't figured a way to keep them off the ground from the bugs though. The dog managed to get into the bed of carrot seedlings so there is nothing really left there and the corn just didn't' grow where we planted it... maybe one seed. :(

The lettuce, pictured here, is going great.

As for spinning, I have some yarn to share- but don't have the photos of the finished skein yet- so will post ASAP for that. Made from wool batts hand dyed and created by Kathy Baschiera from Lobethal, SA......we discovered her at the first wool event we attended and two weekends ago went to the scarf exchange just to get some wool from her. I fully intend to take pics of what I got from her that day.....slow but sure. ;)

Today is Rememberance Day in Australia- at 11 am on the 11 of Nov. each year everyone is to stop for one minute and observe silence for the fallen of Australian Wars. ( If I didn't get that right- someone feel free to correct me- I am pretty new to this. )

Well- the guys are getting ready for the beach so better go for now - but perhaps I can get photos taken of the yarn and put online sooner rather than later! :)

Hope you are well.

Friday's Photo-Up Close

2007-11-09T10:07:00.000+10:30

Woohoo! I have a yarn to show you! This yarn is now my new favourite..... ( gee whiz- it often seems the newest yarn finished is my favourite- is that good or bad!?! LOL!)

This one is from a roving called "Up Close" from EGMTK!

Below is how it spun up as the singles- I did long strips ( pencil roving thickness generally) and spun them in the full length colourway as Mandie had dyed it...and let me tell you- it was so just SO FUN to spin! The colours are just so vibrant and the yellow is just the perfect contrast colour to the pink/orangy colours. I'd been wanting to get back to making a thicker, chunkier yarn -and this one I spun pretty thick as a singles.

Then the next decision was with what to ply it... I already knew I wanted to use a thread so that the colour wasn't affected too much- but what colour? I originally was planning a dark purple- that I knew would contrast with the colours- but once it spun out so beautifully I decided that I wanted to ply with something that wasn't obvious... so I was going to use the gold rayon sample Mandie had sent- but couldn't find it! :( So... I held up all the threads I had on hand and a light pinky purple-y colour ( Orchid I would call it....) came out the winner- I could only guess how amazingly this thread would go- from a distance it practically disappears! Up close it is a perfect compliment to the colours. I could hardly wait to get the yarn done so I could wash and fluff it and see how it looked. The Turkish spindle is jam packed full- I seriously don't think I could've fit much more on-it was popping off as i spun it to ply!
And here is how it looks- full skein -182 yrds- approx 100g.. ( didn't weigh it yet) and here is Up Close- up close! ( you know I had to say it...! ) ;)
( If you really want to see it UP CLOSE- click on the picture and let it down load- yikes!!) I finished this on Whirly Wednesday- but wanted to wash it and dry it and fluff it up a bit before I posted the pics. :) WHee! It is THE SOFTEST i have made- you just want to snuggle your nose into it! The only thing that happened that was a bit of a bummer was that when I washed it- the pink colour came out alot- and it muddied up alot of the yellow. It's still pretty- but not as vibrant as it originally was. I managed to get it out in time- usually I let it soak a few minutes before I rinse and hang it to dry- bit this time I grabbed it out asap. Not that it was all that dirty anyway- I just like to do it as then it is 'preshrunk' - ready for use.

I have alot more photos of other things to share too- someone find me two more hours in the day and I might be able to get all the stuff posted that I want to share! RJB has been going to bed verrrrrrrry late at night, naps are short or non-existent and I am not getting virtually any ME time. Thankfully he doesn't resent my spinning while he plays some during the day. Being at the computer...on the other hand... he doesn't appreciate. :( So i try to limit myself,thereby not getting as much done as I would truly like.

I have the scarf exchange to talk about from last weekend and some ocean photos to share from before that!

It is doing to be a WARM day today, warmer tomorrow. Just in time for Christmas parade in the city- being from the Northern Hemisphere- it does nothing to put me in the mood and I can't tolerate the sun to even go to the parades. I think the local one is next weekend. Fingers crossed it cools back down for that one. I *think* RJB would like it even with all the chaos. :) We shall see.

Hope you are well!

Pay It Forward

2007-11-06T09:10:00.001+10:30

My friend and fellow yarn enthusiast, Rosie, has invited me to be a part of a movement that was set forth by a movie. I haven't seen a movie in theater for 4 years or more- and rarely watch them on the tv- but love this idea and want to be a part of it....
I will blatantly BORROW ( ahem-perhaps plagiarize is the more proper word! lol )
from her blog to tell the rest.....
***************

Have you seen the movie "Pay it Forward"?

Haley Joel Osment's character comes up with a simple idea to change the world. Give three good deeds, the person who receives it must pay it forward.

An easy thing but so difficult.

Somebody has taken this idea and turned it into presents. It's fun to give gifts. I read about it in Rosie's blog. You can be a part of this if you promise:

-------------------------------
“I will send a handmade gift to the first three people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week… but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.”
-----------------------------------
You can be a part of this, just leave a comment here, and I will reply so you can can email me your address.

*******

So that's it really! :)
Let's have fun!

Hope you are well!

Happy November! ( a day late...)

2007-11-02T19:04:00.000+10:30

As promised- here are a few photos of my "boys"
ready for a local trick or treating...
we only ever go to just a few of the houses here on our street- only to folks we know and many weren't even home this time! Ah well. RJB still did really well and for two days now has begged me to "pwease wet me go twick or tweating?"?? It is SO hard to say no to that, but thankfully I can back up my lack of wanting to go begging on a daily basis by trying to explain (once again) that it is a 'once a year' thing. Not easy to explain to a three year old!
Without further ado- here you go!:

yes- the headband ( and matching tail that we didn't get a photo of....*sigh* )
were crocheted by me and then added some white wool for fur. I was rather proud of myself - it turned out really well over all. :D

This is a short post as it is raining and RJB wants to go for a walk before it gets dark- he just loves the rain. :) We have been having sprinkles and drizzles for two days now...... makes for a bit of a dreary day- but thank Heavens for the RAIN!

Hope you are well!

PS) Fibre event tomorrow- woo hoo! Will write more asap. :)

HAPPY HALLOWEEEEEEN!!!!!!

2007-10-31T12:09:00.000+10:30

OK- so it is still day time and I have no costume pics to share yet- but wanted to get my wish in on the day. Photos tomorrow or ASAP though. :)

Thought I would share pics of the "softly spoken" roving that I showed earlier in the month... the is the the yarn all washed and twisted. I have yet to measure it.
Good amount I'd say.
I plied it with itself ( 2 ply) so there isn't as much yardage as there 'could' be if I'd plied it with something else... but I'd wanted to try self-plying and this roving was the one. Soft muted colours so the 'candy cane' effect isn't so obvious. :)

Also-here is the last little bit of my bird of paradise yarn- this time plied with some plain white optim I had spun to try out a new spindle. Very small amount but I have plans for it. It's in the new bowl I got 2 weekends ago for 20c! :) :)

Thanks for looking - hope you have a hauntingly boo-tiful day! ;)

Hope you are well.

Nearly Halloween!

2007-10-30T11:29:00.000+10:30

( This is RJB's way of saying "Happy Halloween"! Little foamie letters I cut out years ago that we found and we laid them out properly last night- this morning I found them like this in the front room with a patiently waiting RJB nearby waiting for my delight at how smart he is!! )

It's nearly haunting time again!

Here is a neat link you should try for some jack-o-lantern fun!

A real pumpkin ( the only one that survived last year despite the drought-it's small but it's ours! LOL! ) was carved last night- fun was had - here are a few pics to prove it: :)

Here is the finished item- the next day ( today) - after being lit and enjoyed for an hour or so last night before retiring for bed.

It's a bummer that daylight savings doesn't hold out for one more week here- so that it gets darker that little bit earlier for Halloween. Ah well.......

On the fibre front-I *did* get some spinning done over the weekend- and have "softly spoken" all spun and washed and ready to be photographed.....just haven't had the time to get to it. Will aim for later today.

Hope you are well!

Whirly Wednesday

2007-10-24T09:36:00.000+09:30

Today is spinning day- I've already done some- and have photos to prove it. ;)

I started this last week- the spinning of a EGMTK! roving called "Softly Spoken"...

then spun some on last Wed., then carried on through the weekend when my hand would allow.

I decided to ply it with itself- the first time since my original attempt at spinning and plying...

I have made that my spinning project today. I would like to start crocheting some items from my yarns... but haven't found the right project yet- or is it the courage ? Hmmm.....

Not alot happened this last weekend- Sunday was hot hot hot so we stayed home. The cool air moved in nearly 8pm so the day was gone for us to do anything really.

Sat. we went early to the War Memorial Veterans Hospital in McLaren Vale for their annual garage sale... BOY did i do well! :) I came away with a hand knit sweater ( jumper) in a dark rose and white heathered yarn for $2!!!!!!!!!! ( and it really fits me! ) I think it is a wool and mohair combo- some fuzzy fuzzies in there of some sort anyway! Very warm and SOFT- although it still makes me itch after awhile-even with a cotton shirt on under it!

A poly floral scarf that I hope to shred and spin if I can get myself to do that to the scarf--- for 50 cents! ( Salvo's eat your heart out- they want $3 for the same thing!!!!!!! I figure we can't even afford to be poor when it comes to that Op Shop! :( )
And get this TWO wooden bowls that I hope at least one if not both will turn out to work for my support spindle spinning adventures when I start! They say wooden bowls are good for the least ear wrenching sounds- so that is what I had been looking for- for 20 c and 10 c I am soooo happy ! And if they dont work as spinning bowls I love them for themselves and will use them somehow! :) :D

RJB got two little cars for 10c each and DH found a set of children's walkie talkies for $3. They work OK ......which is just what it said o nthe tape that had the price on- OK> ! LOL

I am sure they will get lots of use once we get outside again. the alst two days and today too- have been rainy and windy and chilly ( I am NOT complaining either! )- but it is to get nice over the next two days. So we will get outside and try them out properly. :)
I keep hoping no one is picking us up on their baby monitors! LOL!

On the garden front- I have some photos to share.

Will write under them what is what. :)

This is my honeysuckle. I had this in abundance in the USA and I love it- so I have been babying this one along- I think it might need a sunnier location- but the harsh summers are so hard on it that I hate to move it. Not that i really have too many places where honeysuckle can live and prosper on the property- but I am thinking on it. The smell is heavenly.
This is the back garden and is of my really going to town zucchini seedlings- I just planted the seeds a week ago- they are just vigorous and healthy. The sprawling tomato is a cherry tomato plant that just keeps giving and giving. This is its' 3rd year to give us fruit. The first year we had so many we didn't know what to do with them all- last year was not such a great year- but this year is promising. We just let it ramble where it wants. It is my 'pet' plant. :) In the back there are the strawberry plants with new blossoms on. The darn millipedes got the strawberries that were on it and turning red. So much for putting straw down for the berries to rest on to keep clean- although I am sure the 'pedes are sooo thankful! LOL!

This one is of the front yard/garden to the right side as we walk out... that is the volunteer pumpkin that has just gone crazy! :) The purply pink flower behind/beside it is a Pentas. The hot pink flower closer to us is a geranium/pelargonium. The yellow flowers are calendula/pot marigold. The watermelons are all onthe right of the patch in that 'empty' spot- they are just too small to see yet- and you can see my two remaining cucumber plants at the 'bottom' of that bare looking space... I suspect I can see them better than you can though - since i know what i am looking at. There is also a peony bush in there- just this side of the pink pentas plant. I never have flowers on it- I just am keeping it alive i guess. But that makes me happy. I think it doesnt' get cold enough for it to bloom perhaps. I keep saying i am going to put a whole bag of ice on it in the winter to see if that will work! LOL Anyone ever try that or hear of it?? Let me know!

Ok- need to help my son with lunch.
I hope to put up photos tomorrow what I finished today in spinning.

Until then,

Hope you are well!

What a Difference A Day ( or two) Can Make

2007-10-19T18:44:00.000+09:30

In my previous post I was whinging about the temps... I am here to tell you- that they are now going to be much higher than previously predicted! Tomorrow is 30 ° C (high 80's F)- and then an overnight LOW of 22°C is predicted ( that's about 74°F!) with the following day to be 35°C!!!!
(That is way into the 90's F !!! ) OMG! Now this wouldn't be so bad if we had been having consistently warmer days all along- but it has been in the low 20's daytime and in the low teens for the nights... ( so that is around mid 70's and around high 40's for the translation...).
I am not sure what next week will bring- but this weekend was meant to be full of activities for us out and about- outside activities. Well- ffffffffft on that! :(

On to happier things- zucchini have popped up- the strawberries were eaten with delight by RJB, and there are more tomatoes on their way! I have managed to so far keep the snails from eating my two remaining cucumber plants...and the watermelon seeds are popping up thick as thieves. The pumpkin out front is growing madly and has had male blossoms for several days now! The carrots and all the teeny tiny portulaca seedlings are all ok.....they are just sooo tiny you can't imagine how they ever grow to be something of any size- let alone a full sized carrot !
(Portulacas dont' get THAT big of course! lol! )

I think the corn may be a loss- it's been well over 14 days- and nothing....I raked the mulch back today- hoping the sun might get to them and help them to grow- but i might be too late- fingers crossed I was on time! At $1 an ear in the shops and only to get more expensive in the near future- having some of our own to eat and preserve would be very very nice!

On the ISP front- we have gone with AAPT- are awaiting the final switchover- but so far they have been OK . A bit vague-ish with helping- but at least we don't have a 4 hour cut off every time we are connected. I mean- really- how many of us are still on dial-up that the other company really needed to disconnect us on the dot of 4 hours??!?

Not much spinning got done on Wed. I am sad to say - but every little bit helps! I didn't get ANY done today nor yesterday......let's hope the heat isn't too much to spin.

Also- we did our 100th geocache find today! Woo hoo! AND it was a FTF! Down south of us near the Myponga reservoir- always a nice drive.

OK- off to do dinner/tea dishes- whee.

Hope you are well.

******************************************************
Yesterday our little girl Skylar would've turned 5.
I can only imagine what life would be like with a little girl to dress up and with who I could play girly games. I am thankful for my precious son and all the joy he brings me ( and all the bugs and dirt too! :) ) . But I couldn't let the chance pass to say how much I long for her to be with us and how much I miss her. So much- so, so much. 0 :]
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Tuesday Night

2007-10-16T23:50:00.000+09:30

HI All!
Just a quick note to say that the computer is working wonkily- the carrots finally popped up and so have the watermelon seedlings! We have two alllllllll but ripe strawberries and RJB ate his first of the season cherry tomato! :) The strawberries will be next I am sure! : D

We are heading into a hint of summer to come weather-wise- tomorrow is meant to be 23c (mid- high 70's) and then it is to get up to nearly 30c ( high 80's!) the next day...but thankfully a cool change is to come in for a day and then back up to the 80's again on Sat.! Whew!

Hope you are well!

Ravelry arrived

2007-10-11T09:12:00.000+09:30

I got my invite for Ravelry yesterday- it went into my 'junk' mail folder- can you IMAGINE!?! (shock! don't *they* ( the email mailer people) know this is one of the most sought after emails ever?!? LOL
Anyway- I have to think of a name and all that jazz- so haven't joined just yet- but will today sometime I reckon.

Hope you are well!

Spin Wednesday Results

2007-10-11T08:23:00.000+09:30

Here are some pics of the plying I got done yesterday...

it is my own mix of solid colour rovings of purple, yellow, rockmelon/cantaloupe, light green, and old gold and then plied with either feathers yarn in black or the ostrich yarn in black.

(Sorry for the blurry pic- it was the best I could do yesterday-very frustrating!)

Here's the 'before" - singles yarn on the spindle still........
I also plied a small remainder of the singles with a white optim that I had spun as a thin singles while testing out my flower spindle from the USA a few months ago now... it looks nice- will get a photo of it today and put it up along with the finished yarns you see here. They are just finishing drying today as we have humid weather from the showers that are passing through/over us. :)

This yarn is sooooo soft- esp. the feathers plied one. I am so glad I couldn't find my gold thread from Mandie- or else I never would've tried this I bet!

Now I can freely crochet with the 'fancy' stuff! ( the thin fancy stuff is much harder to see to crochet with and find the stitches properly than with knitting them...) I am very pleased with myself and while the photos don't show the real colours and beauty- you'll have to trust me when I say it is so soft and fun to look at- with the colours almost hiding in the plush black yarn! ;) I am eager to make these into something too- a simple scarf I think would be the nicest.
Or maybe a headband?
The plied with white optim looks totally different. Wait'll you see!

I also started my "Softly Spoken" EGMTK! roving... not alot got done so I didn't take a picture of it. Will try later today if the sun shines. :)
****************************************
Oh - update on the YARN Magazine prize- I wrote to the editor- and she affirmed it was sent out two weeks ago- but nothing ever arrived here. :( :( :(
I think we have a very greedy evil person in the postal service here in the area... the parcel would've travelled less than 20K from her place to mine...
Some day whoever is stealing will get caught. What would they want with stitch markers anyway? THAT is worth losing your job and reputation over!?!??

*** Guess what showed up in the mail this afternoon!? Yepper - the yarn stitch markers! LOL! I told Barb ( the Ed. ) I guess the Universe just needed that 'push'! So - am glad to say they arrived safe and sound - very pretty, too...now if I only knit!****
*****************************************
The garden is loving the slight watering it is getting...I am pleased too!
The snails have come out in full force- not sure what we will do with them- we can't bring ourselves to kill them and there are so many- they will decimate our seedlings in no time if we are not careful!
****************************************
On a side note- had no ideas for dinner last night- ended up making some fried cabbage and oriental ( ramen ) noodles- YUMMY! Try that sometimes! Fry the cabbage until it is just before done- add in the already cooked and spiced noodles and fry a bit longer until slightly crispy noodles happen- I love it with lots of black pepper- yum!!
Riley had Oatbrits as he is not too keen on fried cabbage. Although he ate some noodles as he like them! ;)

Hope you are well!

Forever Young Finis!

2007-10-10T11:02:00.000+09:30

OK- Here is the finished yarn- washed and wound into a center pull ball. Today is "Spin Day" for my new friend Rosie and I - she lives on the Eyre Peninsula and I live at the top of the Fleurieu Peninsula...not all that far- 'as the crow flies' but oy! going via manmade roads- it's a 4 hour + trip- so we will not be meeting up to spin...*sigh*... but one day I am sure we will meet! Meanwhile- it will be a weekly 'challenge' to be sure to spin or create SOMETHING yarn-ish! :)
I can't wait to see what we each do...

will post later or tomorrow with the results. :)

I also want to write about the garden and what we are growing at the moment-- or TRYING to grow! Our soil isn't the best and we keep trying to improve it- but wow- it's alot of effort with seemingly little result- we will see.

So far we have:

Tomatoes- Cherry, Roma, and a big one- called Big Red - I think
Pumpkins- they are volunteers from the compost - grow pumpkins people- they are so easy!!!!!!!
Radishes-(from seeds) our first crop- they are about done now- as the leaves are getting awfully prickly to handle. We even got to give some of these to our neighbour! :)
carrots (from seed)
celery ( volunteer)
cucumber ( 5 seedlings have come up!)
corn ( from seed)
green beans
yellow ( wax) beans
peas
sunflowers (from seed- the snails are eating them though :( )
marigolds (from seeds)
portulaca ( from seeds)
cleome ( spider flowers) ( from seeds)
basil
parsley
onions (from seed we saved!)
potatoes ( old ones with sprouts on them)
zucchini (10 seeds -planted today)

I think that is all for now! lol

Better go before my time runs out on the internet- 4 hours and ZAP! We are off!

We are getting a new ISP soon- AAPT! YAY!

Hope you are well.

Train ahoy! ?

2007-10-03T14:49:00.000+09:30

RJB's fascination with trains continues on- so much so that the cubby house climbing thing that he rarely ever had anything to do with- is now his favourite place to play because we improvised and made it into a 'train'. Mind you, it takes alot of imagination, and this isn't the best photo as he doesn't cotton on to having his photo taken too often. He prefers to 'mug it up' if he is going to have to have it taken,too.

Here is one that I took through the house window so he wasn't suspecting me until I went out and then if he said no to a photo- I still have one for memory's sake. ;)

Sneaky mom.

I've rigged up a bell on a pull cord and have put the bucket on a bat a ball post for the 'smokestack' part of the train... and he has an engineer's cap he wears that he got from the "Thomas" expo thing we went to earlier in the year. Have a photo of him in that:

And another one- in motion!

Typical mom- I could just fill up my blog with my child's photos. However I will refrain. For now.

No, wait- I have to add this one..

taken while wering my sunglasses while we were out looking for the "Star of Greece #1" geocache down at Port Willunga.... they have a boardwalk nearby- that leads to the ocean and also has a bench on a side shoot from the walk...we sat there for awhile and enjoyed the surf and all the sounds.
The ocean was very rough but the crashing sounds of that are far more relaxing than most sounds we have at our house outside! It is so nourishing to the soul.

He is napping now- so will take the chance to write a few emails I owe. It's about time- I know.

Hope you are well.

Downward Spiral

2007-10-03T14:46:00.000+09:30

Ah well, back to my agrimony writing self.
Thanks- no really.

Forever Young 2 Finally Done

2007-10-03T10:00:00.000+09:30

This is the before of a roving from EGMTK! called "Forever Young 2"-

Here is F.Y.2 as a singles- before being plied:

and then there are two "afters" - this yarn was spun from the 100% Merino wool roving and then plied with a mohair type commercial yarn.

That spindle was SO FULL- I really didn't think I was going to get all of it onto it and was thinking i was going to have to cut it and make two skeins... but I managed to carefully wrap it all. Next is to wash and measure it......then I will post it onto the EGMTK! Gallery. Different pics. will be there than these. Or so I intend! lol

That's all for this post- Riley is holding the train for me! ( pic. to be posted later!)

Hope you are well.

Sunday at 1:30 pm

2007-09-30T13:38:00.000+09:30

Trying to get RJB down for a nap- don't think it is going to work- but we are trying.
He wants to go geocaching- and it is nice day for it- slightly overcast with a breeze.
I finally finished plying my Forever Young 2 singles. I chose a blue mohair type commercial yarn. New way for me. Then I tried a new method of plying- which was to hold the single/yarn together and then spin... I would say it was a WHOLE lot easier and result wasn't too bad!
I got the whole thing onto my Turkish spindle- but let me tell you- JUST!
I will put a photo up asap of it. It's a bit gloomy for photos-but will try it soon anyway- then add it in here:

Let's see- what else to tell you?
Oh- still not email for isurf.
Did I mention we at least have heard from the new company that has taken them over?
They have an automated email that sends out every time we try email to see if it is finally fixed...
it is as big a load of crap as anything isurf ever wrote - so I am not thrilled- PLUS they took out the $25. for service with them! How can that be legal!?
But hopefully this first week of the month will see us with our email back. (Fingers crossed.)
I need to tell you about my trip to Bella Head's Walking Wheel Studio a few weekends ago. What a wonderful lady! We spent a goodly amount of time there but it flew by in minutes! We came away with a bunch of wool rovings in plain colours- a bag of some suri alpaca that is like BUTTAH!, and a whole new respect for the art of weaving. She is so talented and so nice. Am so-o-o looking forward to a trip back. It's only about 20 mins or so up the road.
I have already used some of the tops from Bella and some from Mandie to make a Bird of Paradise yarn. :)
I need to ply it, then will take pics.

We also got a big bag of rovings from Mandie over the last few weeks- will post pics. as they are spun.

We are really getting into the spring fever- we have planted and harvested radishes already. Then planted cucumber seeds in the front garden- and in the back - sunflowers! Yesterday the soil got turned for the corn- and today we planted corn seeds! :)
Pics to come of that too....my boys working hard outside in the dirt! ( I was inside- as usual- making dinner. I like to cook- but sometimes....)

OK- well- he didn't settle and the time to cache is at hand- so must go for now. Will edit the pic in later and write again when possible.

Hope you are well!

Me want COOKIE!!

2007-09-26T08:50:00.000+09:30

You Are Cookie Monster

Misunderstood as a primal monster, you're a true hedonist with a huge sweet tooth.
You are usually feeling: Hungry. Cookies are preferred, but you'll eat anything if cookies aren't around.
You are famous for: Your slightly crazy eyes and usual way of speaking
How you life your life: In the moment. "Me want COOKIE!"

http://www.blogthings.com/thesesamestreetpersonalityquiz/

You Are NOT Going to Believe This!

2007-09-25T10:13:00.000+09:30

OMG!

This is so unbelievable- if it were anyone else's life I'd say they really had some bad luck in their corner!
Not only do we still not have isurf email access-but now my hotmail is unavailable as well!
^ ^
@@
O

Plus....... my sister is able to ( normally, anyway) get email to my hotmail addy and I am replying but she is not getting my emails from there!
Man oh man.
Really- how much NON- communication crap can fall on one person who loves to communicate so much??!? WHAT exactly is the Universe telling me? Move on- get a life? Or something like "HA!" ?
I am remaining thankful for the ability to post here. However, if you don't see me here for a few days- you will know why!!!!!!!!!! lol

On a positive note-

This is a photo from a place called "Richardson's Gardens" . Not too far away.
This is wisteria - and oh.... it smelled so sweet and was full of happy little bees. It's too early in spring for much else to be blooming-but this was worth the trip.

And yesterday we planted out seedlings for green and yellow wax beans- and some peas...have had the seedlings awhile waiting for the right weather to happen- am hoping this is good timing as they were starting to look pretty sad. How do garden centers keep them so nice??

Hope you are well, and able to communicate.

addendum: Hotmail is available again. As an aside- at one point I couldn't get into my yahoo! account for email either- that was very quick- but still! LOL!

Do You Accept Cookies?

2007-09-23T22:11:00.000+09:30

(Title is in reference to the error notice we get once in awhile, that our computer won't allow cookies.... it does.. and so do we....)

Lookee what we made today!
:)

These are butter cookies- meant to be rolled in powdered (icing) sugar after done baking- but we couldn't bring ourselves to do that to them!

We had two cookie sheets FULL to the brim- there are only 3 left from one sheet ( well they *are* wee little things...) and the other sheet didn't get touched....yet... LOL

This is the 'after' baking of the above group...

and here is one up close - isn't that neat?

(There are walnuts in there too- that's the tan bits you might notice.) :)

I think I may have enjoyed the outcome,visually, more than anyone else in the house. LOL

Hope you had a good weekend and you are well.

It's Sunday

2007-09-23T10:09:00.000+09:30

Normally I am so excited about Sundays I can hardly stand it- because of the updates at EGMTK! - but this week everything seems dulled. My enthusiasm is not all that great for much of anything. I am not sure I can blame losing Lovey as the reason- although it may have been the kickstart. Seems it doesn't take much for me to get bummed out....
anyone else like that? Sometimes I think I need to go ask the Dr. about it- but other times I think that with all the crap that has happened in the last 5 years that it would be 'ok' to have times of depression. But at the same time I know- totally- that mostly what I have faced is nothing compared to the struggles (daily) that others endure. I place some of the blame on my being HSP- but some of it I fear may just be crazy-ness.
Ah well- I reckon I am not hurting anyone. I still do my daily duties- albeit not real well- but no one is neglected. Burnt Toast.

I have an idea for something I would like to try regarding spinning as a group project- but feel I don't have alot of influence to make it happen- but guess I will just run it passed DH and see what he thinks and then run it passed the internet eyes.

Must go-life beckons.

Hope you are well.

Rest in Peace, Lovey

2007-09-20T17:26:00.000+09:30

She really disliked having her photo taken- so it is with respect and fond memory that I post this photo of Lovey.

She was euthanised this morning- crossing over peacefully in seconds- Richard holding her. I stayed at home with RJB - we felt it would be easier to explain her not coming back from the animal drs. in a day's time rather than right away. He knows something is up with her though- because we are tearful and rather quiet.

Next time you have some Doritos, potato chips, or sour cream- give a thought for Lovey- some of her favourite things to eat were these.....she would just about knock you down for the salty snacks, and she had a penchant for chocolate, too. :) Cheeky girl.

We will miss you Lovey Dove.

Wed.Sept.19,2007~ 15 days and counting.....

2007-09-19T15:52:00.000+09:30

Well-
no news other than the title on the isurf front- still no email service- but thankfully no disruption of online service but that one day.

Mandie has made a place (a group blog) where anyone who has purchased from her, can show others what they have done. So I have added my yarns to the list.....

Will add the link asap- right now we are having animal problems...dog is being very unfriendly to the cat. *sigh*

**** link added****
Dog and cat sorted- think the cat is going to have to go to the vets tomorrow- and I am not sure she will be coming back. :( She eats well but is skinny as a rail, fur is getting mangier and mangier, we've been having problems with her not going the litter box to do her 'things'......and she is walking very poorly, esp. in the last two days. Also is deaf and blind....which has happened over the last few months gradually too.
But yet she soldiers on and we weren't sure if she might rally...but it has become apparent this evening that perhaps a visit to the vet is in order.....she is something like 22 yrs old....
so it's hard to give up on her- can't expect her to do a jitterbug or anything.......
but yet you don't want her to be suffering either.... she's always been a bit of a cranky thing. So her aloofness of late wasn't worrying until just the last few days.
Her bowels and kidneys are working just fine...and like I said- her appetite is real good- so maybe there is something else wrong that they will be willing or able to help her with....
am not looking forward to dealing with the issue of Lovey being gone with RJB. He will likely deal with it better than DH or I will....... update as we know things.

Hope things are good in your life and you are well.

Happy Birthday Kelly!

2007-09-16T08:28:00.000+09:30

We may be far apart and it may be more than a year since we talked..........but I will never ever forget that this is your special day.

Wishing you a life filled with all the happiness your heart can hold and then some!

Would love to call you - please be in contact with me any way you can.

Missing you.

Wishing you so much joy and love.

Things CAN Get Worse, You Know...

2007-09-14T23:24:00.000+09:30

OK- they took away our internet access completely for 24+ hours! :(
Crazy!

Madness!

But thank gosh it's back!
{waving to everyone}
Hi!

:)

I have lots and lots and LOTs of pictures to show you- but it is getting very late. So will try to get some in tomorrow. For now- here's a sneak preview:

Forever Young 2 ( hand dyed 100% Merino roving from Mandie/ Ewe Give Me The Knits! )
(above) Before :

(below) After :)

Oh and yes- no- there is still no email available through the account. Maybe Monday?

Hope you are well.

This Is Just Not Right!

2007-09-12T14:48:00.000+09:30

Well- here it is- technically EIGHT (8) days later- no mail.
Thankfully I *did* set up that hotmail account- but it's still not right. Anyone know anything about Consumer Rights in Australia??
This is the most annoying thing- they aren't answering the phone! I mean- they don't even let you leave a message because it either cuts off or...get this- the voice mails are FULL!!!!
Gee- you think maybe some others are mighty unhappy too?? They boast about their customer support availability and their commitment to keeping their customers 100% happy.......yeah RIGHT!!!!
Anyway- enough of that.
Sunday night was very nice- there wasn't the HUGE frenzy- just a small frenzy for the Sunday Night Update at "Ewe Give Me the Knits!" and we came away relatively unscathed. 1 roving each if I play nicely ( cos I really like them both ) - but then later I decided I wanted one other one- so added it to my order...because the colourway is quite similar to one that I already own ( but haven't spun yet) and am hoping it will be 200g of yarn that will allow me a bigger project.
I have several in mind- but they all take more like 300g to make- yardage would vary because the patterns use a commercial yarn and mine def. is NOT... for better or worse.
I did start spinning my Nyassa roving on my Twinsanity spindle ( yes- I still need to tell you about this wonderful experience.). If you love doing laceweight yarns on a spindle you simply must check out Shannon's artwork. She painted two flower spindles for me- and if we can work out a way to make mid-weight ones- ( i need to talk with her- but with no decent email- I am putting it off.........plus she is SUPER busy she has two shops interested in selling her spindles besides her own etsy store and an upcoming "meet Shannon in person" event at some craft show I believe she wrote to me...don't hold me to that detail... but i am so excited for her and so proud! She is a WAHM and deserves your support for a fabulous product that is beautiful and/humourous [one spindle she painted with a sheep caught in a spiderweb! too cute!]- and all made by her. She even hand sands them when she works on them passed 9 pm at night so her electric tools don't bother the neighbours! How cool is she?? ) - I will def. have more of her artwork. I am flower fanatic and nothing would make me happier than to have a whole bouquet of them. ( And they are affordable too!).

On another positive note- my brother Randy called me today from Hawaii! :) He is in Maui and having a grand time.....he even went para sailing!OMG! I can't wait to talk with him on a better connection than we had...... he's gone snorkeling too and will be attending a luau on Friday!
He says it is really beautiful there and much quieter than the main/big island. Having pretty nice weather too- what more can you ask for in a vacation holiday?

Am watching the mail- any day now I hope to be receiving a surprise from the folks at "Yarn" magazine..... I won something for being a person who posted a comment the day they reached 20 thousand hits on the blog. :)
I am nearly like a child at Christmas... can you imagine what amazing goodies they could hand out from a YARN based/focused magazine!?! I will keep you posted on what it is once it has arrived.

OK- better go- I do have lots of photos to take and post. Hoping for later today for taking- maybe tomorrow for posting.

Hope you are well!

Second Verse, Same as the First

2007-09-09T20:33:00.000+09:30

Yes- we have no email. We have no-o email today....
( sung to the tune of "yes-we have no bananas" just in case you were wondering.)

Waiting (im)patiently for Mandie to list her new offerings....it's a Sunday night ritual now...
I want YELLOW!

Hope you are well.

Ditto From Yesterday

2007-09-08T09:45:00.000+09:30

Still no mail.
I am guessing we pay for the internet time and the mailboxes are 'free' so we can't really complain...but MAN! I am so glad I do NOT have an online business that requires me to have email contact.

Not happy Jan.

Hope you are well.

And Still Nothing...

2007-09-07T10:19:00.000+09:30

I am trying to think positive- at least I have web access. I am sure hoping they get it all done by tonight- or else we likely won't have email all weekend.

On a positive note- I am going to get some pics taken today- so hope to get them downloaded this afternoon for you to see what all has been happening fibre-wise at my house. :)

Until later-
Hope you are well.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MANDIE!

2007-09-06T22:47:00.000+09:30

Well! I couldn't Bl***y send you an email to wish it to you privately- so I am going to shout it out LOUD here....HAPPY BIRTHDAY MANDIE!
I hope you don't mind that I announced it here. I will delete the post if you'd like- you just tell me-ok?
But I couldn't miss the chance to wish one of the most amazing woman/Goddess persons I know a very Happy Birthday on this very special occasion.

I *will* make it up to you- expect it when you least expect it! ;)

Wishing you sunshine smiles and laughter to fill your heart and home.

Blessed Be!

Still Nothing

2007-09-06T18:27:00.000+09:30

Sorry no mail in or out again today.

Hope you are well.

Strike that! Now rewind.....

2007-09-05T21:21:00.000+09:30

You know how I am often saying about how I can't send out my mail?
Well - now they are meant to be working on upgrading the system (the last one didn't seem to make a difference to my untrained consumer eye.....)- so I cannot send OR receive any emails! :(

Thankfully I am able to blog about it here.

Randy- BonVoyage for your trip to Hawaii.....
Shannon- I sent a note- the spindles arrived- hope you got that before it all went floop! ( Much more on that later! )
Mandie- Hi! :) I want that bunny top you put on your site today!!
Crystal and Donna- I sent you both a quick email around noon my time, hope you got/get it.
Christine- (Yarn about Yarn)- I love what you have been up to lately- you are so creative I can't stand it! So much talent in one person!
Cathie in WA, AU- feel better soon! I can't believe you missed the last update..... I wondered why flower shower didn't go! ( you still might be able to get it - look under hand dyeds on Mandie's site.) What is that 'pea flower' in hot pink/orange on your Father's Day blog entry-PLEASE?? I have read the name - but it hasn't stuck..... I love it -I want to grow it! Those are my kinda colours! :D

I have photos that need to be taken- of Fo's, yarn, spindles.... lotsa fiber stuff... flowers/plants
I am so behind. This trying to keep on top of the housework stinks! :(

Hope you are well. (and can email in and out!)

Did I Really Say That?

2007-09-02T06:50:00.000+09:30

Or ........."Things a Mother Will Say to Get Her Child to Eat"..... lol

I cannot believe I actually- I kid you not! - said the following line to my 3 yr old son to get him to eat his brussel sprouts two nights ago-

"Hey! You know what? If you eat these- you will fart lots tomorrow!"

and you know what? It worked- he ate several bites - probably equivalent to 2 whole ones!

LOL!

I guess you just gotta do what you gotta do! ;)

( and yes- I reminded him yesterday when said sounds emitted from his bottom- 'that' was because he ate his sprouts! Think he'll remember for the next time??)

Hope you are well.

Happy September!

2007-09-01T09:15:00.000+09:30

A small spot in our front garden- the bright orange is Pigface, a purple Primrose, and some yellow Calendula ( old blooms)- the small yellow flowers at the top left are soursobs. One of my favourite SA weeds! :)

Hope you are well.

Scarf and Hickory Stick to See

2007-08-29T20:21:00.000+09:30

First up to see is the curly whirly scarf I made....

I guess I am a good 2 years behind on this fad..... but I don't care! Well- it's a bummer to not have links to many of the patterns not work anymore- but that's OK! lol
This is crocheted from a 100% wool singles yarn from Sean Sheep. It's fun- it just is a long spiral of massive quantity of stitches- very addictive to do- I want to turn all my current yarns into these! I had not crocheted with a singles before this- I like it and have no problem whatsoever with it.

Which is good- as the finished yarn you are are about to see was done as a finished singles....

This is my Hickory Stick roving (hand dyed by the infamous talented Mandie of EGMTK!)

and here is the yarn I made from it. :D

I love this process - it is one of the best things to happen to me! Really! I know that sounds pathetic- but you know what? I have loved yarn since I can remember. Doing finger crochet chains for seemingly miles and miles. Never understanding why I couldn't get more rows on it. LOL ! I figured it out eventually. ;) So to make my very own- that no one else will ever ever have or create is just awesome to me. Have I said that too many times already? I will say it again surely- so just smile and nod, please?

The lunar eclipse last night was AWESOME! Spectacular. I hope you at least got to see a photo of it. The moniker "Blood Moon" was so appropriate... the deepest shade of red that could be imagined and still be seen from so far away. I feel blessed to have been able to witness it.

I am keeping this short since it is Wednesday night and time for House, MD!

Hope you are well.

A Lunar Eclipse Tonight

2007-08-28T13:13:00.000+09:30

How cool- just found out this morning that there will be a total Lunar Eclipse this evening-starting at 6:51 pm Sydney time- (6:21 pm SA)....... I sure hope the sky remains clear for us to see things.

Have some yarn and a scarf drying - will photo them and post them here later- probably tomorrow now.

Busy weekend- Sat. saw us go for groceries and then once home again rearranged the front room to make things more accessible- what a nightmare! Mom always loved rearranging furniture- boy- not me. It is nice to have the space. But I am not sure the stress was worth it.
Yes- I do know it was.....room for Riley to have his train set out ( a figure 8 thing) and we can still walk passed him. That's a good thing. ;)

Sunday we spent most of it away geocaching down south- Normanville area. Saw some nice views- found 2 out of 4 caches we looked for...... 1 was at a skateboard/play park area that has pretty recently been bulldozed above the play areas- to make what looks like might be a level field for cricket games or the like- not sure the cache is still there! RPB and RJB did a thorough search and still came up empty handed........but it was a really nice park- so I think we will go back again to have another look. ;)

Then Sunday night found me sitting , once again, anxiously awaiting the new update at Ewe Give Me The Knits!- where, by the time it was all done, over 140 people had visited the store and out of 12 new offerings only 2 remain and I have no idea why- they are both so pretty...
I went silly and got two- well- 1 for me and one we'll fight over...... mine is a wool/silk mix-- and it is TUSSAH silk -also known as peace silk- which is harvested from the silkworm's cocoon AFTER it has hatched out. MUCH nicer than boiling the worms alive just so one is able to 'reel' the silk in one long piece. I was/am so grateful Mandie put that in the description so I knew it was veg. friendly. Then later an Optim on Acid choice came up and both DH and i wanted it- Optim is 14 micron wool!!! I simply cannot wait to try spinning some. :)

Will post photos once they are paid for and arrive. If you would like to see them now- at this moment they are available for viewing ( but will likely be removed by next Sunday's update)-
go here for the Optim on Acid and here for the Solaris Merino/silk top . What can I say? I like LOUD colours, not meant for the faint hearted! woohoo! :)

Yesterday ( Monday) found me up to my ears in household chores that were neglected over the weekend- so I didn't get much of anything done fun-wise. A bit of crocheting to finish the aforementioned scarf- and I got some wool plied from the two batts from Kathy B. that we got the first time we met her in Littlehampton,SA. :) I made the yarn for DH to use- am hoping he will like knitting with it......only 50g approx. - but it might make 'something'.......it seems to be about a worsted weight. (U.S. terms- I need to start doing the W.P.I. [wraps per inch] as I think that is a superior way to identify a yarn thickness/weight . )

A bit of frustrating news- a few months ago I splurged on a subscription to the USA magazine "Spin Off" - put out by Interweave Press......they said they sent the first issue and it should've been here by Aug.24th- no later.... but alas it has not arrived. The new issue will come out Sept. 12 I think it is- so have written to them to let them know I didn't get it...... does anyone else in Oz ( that reads this) get the magazine (or any others from the USA ) sent to them? If so- do you have any problems with issues missing? Would it be a customs thing? I sure hope not! I do not have the best of luck with them. ( Like them keeping my can of Old Bay Seasoning my brother Randy sent me- because it had cloves in it. Ground cloves!? What on earth could they have to cause concern or threat?
Mind you- if I got a special permit I could have it sent in then....
money sure talks- loudly. I feel worse for Randy- having spent all that money on the spice/seasoning and sending it- only to have it get taken away. Me thinks the quarantine folks are having nice boiled shrimp with all the right seasonings somewhere.........)
Anyway- I digress. As I often do. ;)

There is a new thing where we can put a video on our blog now...... somehow- so now i can share my RJP with you! Won't that be so cool? I shudder to think how long it will take to DL- but it will be worth it to be able to show him to my family in the USA.

Will try to write more later- but not sure.
Tacos for tea- whoopee! I am hoping RJB will like those better than burritos... the crunchy shell should do it. :)

Hope you are well.

P.S. - To My Hubby

2007-08-22T07:19:00.000+09:30

Happy 5th Wedding Anniversary to my husband, Richard.

(aka RPB or DH)

Here's to a further 20 or 30 or.... may they be even better than the ones we have had already. ;)

Love,

Not able to send out emails3

2007-08-22T07:07:00.000+09:30

Yep- again.
What can I say?
Oh, I know-
DON'T use ISURF as your ISP!

>:(

Pretty spinning- Nice spinning- soooooothing spinning......

Hope you are well. :)

All Sorts... and Not....

2007-08-21T14:43:00.000+09:30

Here it is: my first yarn made from batts.....
This shows the 4 colours of wool batts used-plus what I put the singles onto to ply- and the plied yarn on the spindle (the plain black was spun into a singles then plied with the 3 colour singles that you see on the stick...).

And this shows the remainder of the multicolour singles plied with black thread after I ran out of the 25g of wool I spun with which to ply originally-and the difference between the two.

I immediately thought of licorice all-sorts candy as I started the plying and it was the first thing DH said when he saw it! LOL! ( The above right picture is a bit dark-sorry) It's dramatically different- don't you think? Will take a better photo ( light and neatness of yarn balls) of them together once they are washed and dried and skeined properly. I am too eager to share to wait for all that to happen! LOL

Speaking of eager:

I just *had* to share this with you. OMG! This is so SO soft and the colours that are showing up are so beautifully. I just want to spin this and do nothing else! WOW!

I also thought you might like to see what my new bowl looks like:

There are both finished and unfinished yarns in there-and some underneath that you can't see. :)

That's a bowl full of happiness. :)

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :D :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) : ) :) :) :) :)

Hope you are well (and happy!).

New A-rove-als

2007-08-20T15:43:00.000+09:30

Well- the weekend wasn't much to write about- got some groceries and visited the Go-Lo next door so I could check for some lavender thread for plying. Hubby and son both managed to find stuff to buy- but zilch for me. ( it's ok- don't be sad- I made up for it Sunday!)

Then Sunday found us walking over to the local mall where I made up for Saturday by getting a sheep-load of stuff. Off-white thread, dark green thread, 2 glow in the dark stepping stones we'd been looking for for weeks/months now!, as well as some other stuff- oh- a gorgeous green bowl for me to keep my finished balls and skeins of yarn in so I am inspired to use them as well as just enjoy the sight of them and the satisfaction that *I* ( me?, I did that!?) made them!
I am telling you - this yarn making is right up there with being pregnant. I am fine with imperfection from myself! I figured I would not be happy with what I make/made as it is NOT what you can buy in the stores (eg: nice and even and smooth and even coloured,etc..)- it is thick and thin and not evenly spaced in the plying and sometimes there are fluffy bits sticking out that really shouldn't be there..... but for the most part I just don't care.... I actually *like* that they are not 'perfect'. And with the last yarn I made (pics. to come)- since it is made from batts that I had never worked with before ( the batt 'format'- not just the batts themselves, of course! LOL ) it is truly my very own yarn colourway decision. No way would anyone else have yarn just like this..... because I spin them at total random and whimsy.... too cool. Anyway......I digressed a bit, didn't I?......

When we hit Big W for some thread in lavender- I ended up getting 4! Three shades of purple ( dark, lavender, magenta-ish) & one of a light green (pastel mint green?). I find I enjoy plying with thread more than with another singles. But we also came home with balls of Sean Sheep wool that were on sale for $2 a ball! Now- these are normally $3 and $4 a ball so this was amazing to get 100% wool yarn ( 50g each) in really neat colours for that price! I only got 4 balls ( 2 each of some singles style yarn colours that compliment each other) and dh got some too- don't know the brand or remember the colours- but he as happy too! lol We are really getting to be wool fans. Who'd ever have thunk!? ;)
We also went to the beach later in the day- dug in the sand and enjoyed the surf sounds. The tide was coming in so we didn't stay long- but had a nice time. I prefer to walk- so did a little bit with the dog- but mostly spent time digging in the sand.
That was the best part of Sunday- the best part of Saturday has to do with the title (were you wondering??)- a lovely parcel of rovings arrived from "Ewe Give Me the Knits!". Let me tell you- that Mandie can pack a satchel! ( Thank You again, Mandie ) Inside were 5 very flatly smooshed rovings each in their plastic bags- ready to be liberated! OMG!

Here are the newest additions to our stash-

This green and burgundy pink one is called "Peppercorn Tree"- and it is exactly what a Pink Peppercorn Tree with ripened berries hanging on it looks like- colour-wise. I LOVE IT. I will talk about how neat/special they are to me once I have it spun I reckon.

This small photo-(I didn't get a larger photo saved-darn!)- is "Miss Hettie's Hat"... I love the yellow and purples together. RJB likes this one too- the name especially. :)

This one with the purples and earthtones is sooo pretty- called "Nyassa".... I haven't asked what the name means.... and it was a colourway done before I noticed so it must be a Mandie favourite as well. :)

And then there is THIS!- Is this not awesome? It's called "Intuitive"- so fun and perfect for something fun for summer-it will be interesting to see what this ends up becoming. :)

"Intuitive" above and "Garfields' House" below- are the ones that RPB chose for himself.

We'll see who actually ends up spinning them! ( heh heh! ;) )

I think this is an usual and really neat colourway. I can hardly wait to see how it spins.

Well- I better get going- this has been an all day project. I am so thankful for the draft save feature on here. Helps me alot more than I thought it would!

Hope you are well.

Again- No send outs

2007-08-17T07:30:00.000+09:30

Another morning- another morningof inability to send emails out. :(
Have I ever mentioned how much I DO NOT RECOMMEND ISURF as an ISP! :(

Hope you are well- and able to send out your emails- send a note to someone you love-let them know you care and are glad you can email them to let them know!

More Battiness

2007-08-15T15:04:00.001+09:30

Here are the pink ones I spoke of- the middle picture is a bit too full on- but I liked how the one had unfurled. :) There's no sparkle in these- but plenty of colour- pinks, blues, purple, dark melon-really amazing.

I will also show you the blue and black ones although they are not really specifically mine....the blue is def. hubby's choice... I am not much of a blue fanatic most of the time. I do appreciate it- but it is not a first choice colour - especially blue- gray! lol He's just finished a manly watch cap sort of hat and a matching scarf for colder days of our winter in this colour way- almost exactly like it....with yarn I'd brought with me from the USA. ( yes- I brought as much as possible with me because 5 years ago this area of the country had very little that was appealing or nice that we could afford! It may be acrylic- but it is pretty darn nice acrylic! I will never turn my back on acrylic yarn. It's just too darn fun and affordable. ;)

So- that is my update for now. Nothing exciting or even boring to really talk about- the clouds have moved in just like the BOM said it would- WOW~ amazing. Let's hope we actually get the *rain* for which they are calling!

Hope you are well.

ISP down again

2007-08-15T09:51:00.000+09:30

Just a note to those who might be waiting for an email from me- the ISP is down again this morning- again- able to recve- but not send.
Frustrating.

Ketchup,err......Catsup,err........Catch-up!

2007-08-14T09:01:00.000+09:30

No email is able to be sent out so far this morning- so will work on my blog a bit.
I need a distraction. The pets are driving me over the edge (both are having 'relieving themselves' issues- the cat is OLD and peeing in her bed- Jade (dog) is going on day two of poopie-dom....one more day of this and she will have to go to the vet....it's not as bad today as yesterday, so am thinking it was something she's found to eat- as she is known for having perfectly good pet food in the bowl and she will sniff it and head straight for the cat box to eat poo there! At the beach she eats any and everything from rocks and sand to seaweed to cuttlefish bones!) RJB is being very good this morning- perhaps he can feel my stress from the pets and other household duties weighing in on me today. So this is a nice distraction..this blog thingy I mean. :)

It's about time I shared details about Saturday's SACSOS (SA couloured sheep folks) fibre fair.

I have lots of photos to share of what we got- but none of the show itself as they were in darkness for most of the time we were there and I wasn't blinding anyone ( or annoying them!) with my flash in effort to take some photos. If I were doing it for a magazine or something it might've been different. Something had happened ( they were blaming the Toyota Car Rally that was going on at the other end of town! lol) and they had NO electricity for the first few hours of the fair. It was small and all contained inside the Soldier's Memorial Building. There were about 14 vendors if memory serves me correctly. Friendly and chatty- we had a nice time learning more about wool and meeting folks. Kathy Baschiera was there as hoped! We did our most damage there- but to get 4 coloured/dyed wool batts for $5 ( 100g) is just too good to pass up- I just went crazy! I got majority- Richard (DH) got a few. :)

But he made up for it by getting a 500g roll of wool roving......$15- it is soft and nice quality. A lovely heathered chocolatey brown- the last one they had. This company is world known for its' wool......got a pamphlet and have read it since. They had really nice items-all in the natural colours sheep come in. I'd just left Kathy's stand- I was ready for rainbows and dazzle! lol

We also got to meet Suzie Horne! She is well known also for her yarns and rovings. She was a delight to talk with and we wanted to get some roving from her- but was just too dark to see the colours so we thought we'd go back before we left- which we did- but ended up with a bag of wool from my favourite raw wool folks from Mt Bryan- years ago when we first thought we wanted to spin- there was a wool gathering at Port Noarlunga ( about 7 mins. drive north) - and we met the Lucinvale folks there! So friendly! We didn't get the chance to chat- but knew when I saw their bags of fleece that I wanted one....came home with a 1K+ bag of COATED wool that is sooooooo soft and nice...... with that lovely sheepy farm smell. and ohh the lanolin in it is to die for at this time- it is so nice. I am eager to spin it- but Richard is using the spindle I use for raw wool spinning. ( I find it preferable to stick with one spindle that will get all that lanolin in- rather than 'mess' up several of my spindles. Although my Ashford Turkish could use a finishing coat of something on it! LOL!!!)

The B.O.M. ( weather people) had called for showers and cloudy weather but we found ourselves graced with nice temps and a gusty wind. So we took our Subway subs we had taken along and found a picnic table at the little park just behind the building and sat and watched the trees blow in the wind and children playing and just loved being OUT in it. I really really miss trees and green land and open spaces. ( cue music- "Wide Open Spaces" by the Dixie Chicks)

After we ate we went across the street and looked around at a little eatery that had train stuff ( RJB was insistent there had to be train somewhere nearby- all excursions should be to TRAIN destinations for him. ;) ) and some lovely pastry items. The shop next door had some flowering hyacinth bulbs in pots for sale so I smelled them and reminisced alot about home at Little Bear Creek- Mom adored hyacinths as well. We always had some- never much luck with the outside ones it seemed- but Dad would always bring home some potted ones or mom would get them when we went to the store. Ahhh- nothing says spring like Hyacinths and Lilacs.

After we had a look around a bit we went back inside and got the Lucinvale wool, put it in the trunk/boot of the car and went to play some more in the play area. Oh, forgot to mention that as we were leaving the fair the first time- Barbara from Yarn Mag. had just come in- but RJB was so hungry and we'd made him wait already- and she was talking with Suzie- so timing was all wrong- Richard had wanted to introduce himself as they are both on the same knitting board on Yahoo! groups- but when we got back inside- we didn't see her. :( We are hoping for the next gathering of woolies we will get the chance. :)

So-we got back in after a nice play and got ourselves figured out how to get out of there and head some place interesting next- and off we went........ en route to Melba's Chocolate Factory!

It was just off the road we needed to take to go home so it was a nice hours' diversion with a yummy bag of assorted sweets coming home with us. RJB got a construction vehicle made of plastic that had a little chocolate bulldozer attached to it- so he was happy! I got some dark chocolate frogs ( shape only of course-it's a thing here- chocolate frogs...(shoulders shrug)- and two pink( strawberry) white chocolate piggy shapes for Richard- as well as some hard tac black licorice like he remembers from England. Some fudge ( caramel and coffee- neither are terribly great but they are sweet!), something else caramel-ly- but not that nice....... and the best of all-

choc. covered ( milk and dark came home with us) coffee beans! YUMMMMMMM!

They are very nice. Melba's is good about having samples out of some things to try- and the coffee beans were so yummy! We saw several areas with folks working- packaging, and enrobing, and in the back big room I think the man was making a chocolate caramel or something.....it was quite a dark brown coloured hot mixture we was rolling out repeatedly- then cut it and moved it onto another table...... it's so neat to watch. When we all had made our choices we got into the car and headed home- via Hahndorf - where we stopped at the fruit and veg place we like there and got some broccoli, apples, a HUGE orange and some other good for us stuff ( to balance out Melba's - LOL! ) and then came home the familiar way. We had taken the more 'city' route to get there- thinking it should be faster- but don't know if it was or not- as we forgot to make note of the times left and with stops made along the way home..... well.......

let's just say the non-city way is much more enjoyable and relaxing. I love it over that way.

:)

Without further ado- I will now post pictures of said goodies...

In the bag- back and front view- did I say how much I appreciate people who put coats on their sheep? There is so little VM in this wool- it's fantastic!

A pouf of wool out of the bag- oh so fluffy!

This photo of a lock of wool- it isn't really as long as it might appear here-
it is actually a nice long 4" ( 10cm)- lovely length- not too long not too short.

Am thinking of trying to teach myself to spin from the lock...not quite sure I 'get' the concept- but won't know 'til I try! :)

This is Richard's roving- it really is soft as.

The above picture is pretty true to the colours- the green is a kiwi fruit colour....has the depth like that- some darker some lighter- all we needed was black seeds! LOL The pink is not quite what it is showing on my monitor- it's true colour is about where the too bright meets with the darker part.. the blue is pretty right on- and the yellowy is the colour of mango flesh. Kensington mango to be exact- YUM! : d

It is really difficult to get the true colours of the mango-ey multi batts-

we tried lots of different lighting- the following are what I deem best photos.

Kathy carded in sparkle in this colour- I got every one she had at that time! I would've gotten more if she'd had them! The colours are awesome- bits of blue, white,yellowy mango, kiwi, the sparkle in a 'majority' base of the darker orange-y mango colour. I can hardly wait to spin this- but am going to wait until I know what I want to do with it... each batt is approx. 25 g- so that is 225g of this colour and the plain kiwi and mango I got will compliment this perfectly- so might actually have enough of this for a sweater- even for a large person like me! I am not sure and am afraid i might need to learn to knit to find a pattern I can use homespun yarn with. *sigh* I will have to hide them from me so I don't get impatient and spin before I have the project.

This one ^ is a bit dark.......but loved how the picture came out. :)

These two are showing off the sparkle... above ^ is a bit dark for the true colours- the pic below is the closest to real colours we could get.

OK- I have been at this for a long time- I better get going and pay some more attention to my son- he is not used to me 'ignoring' him for this long! Bad Momma! BAD fibre! lol

Will post the other pictures later or tomorrow- will try again with getting the colour right- pinks are the hardest with oranges right up there....purple is a challenge too- but I don't have any of that to photograph! ( maybe next time?? November......scarf exchange...... we'll be there!)

Will try my email again now- before getting offline.

Hope you are well.

Beauty, Mate!

2007-08-13T23:01:00.001+09:30

More tomorrow. (fingers crossed)

Hope you are well.

More Tomorrow

2007-08-11T22:51:00.000+09:30

We went- we saw - we bought! Will write more soon about it all and have pictures!

Hope you are well!

Finally Friday

2007-08-10T08:30:00.000+09:30

This was one of those weeks that seemed longer than a week.
But Friday it is and that means only 1 more sleep and we are off to the Mt. Pleasant/SACSOS fibre festival. :)
It' s 40 mins. drive outside the city heading north/NE- so for us that will make it a good 80 mins. - Not sure if going on the other side of the Onkaparinga Gorge would make the trip shorter- but it would be prettier- this side is all developed and city..........the other side is glorious views interrupted by towns- usually worth the extra time/distance to drive South a ways to go North. :) I honestly can't tell you how excited I am to be going. Don't know if we will try to take photos of the event or just take photos of what we get- but there *will* we photos of some sort! lol

Am drawing a blank as to what to write so will post this and go frog a mitten I started and now realise I will not have enough of that yarn to make two. Maybe I could start a "mismatched mittens" fad?? I am actually experimenting with a pattern to adapt it to make a certain mitten I have been wanting to create for some few weeks now.... that only seems to be available in knitting patterns- so have been debating on whether to try it with crocheting....but really have been thinking of it so much- so I know it means I have to give it a try. Winter is ending here and it is hot in the USA - so no matter where you are- you are probably not thinking it is mitten weather ( or for much longer). When I am done with these- I hope anyone who tries them will wish it is mitten weather more often. :)
If I really can get the whole thing to work out- I would eventually like to sell them, but that is a long way off.
I had notice from the folks at Spin-Off magazine that my issue is on its' way! To be here for Aug. 24th at latest. Then the new issue is due out the early part of September and I am hoping it will be here much more quickly than the first issue. I can hardly WAIT for the Fall issue of S.O.- they gave a sneak preview ( verbally) and it is an issue I simply must have! Might get one off the newsstand and have two copies ! LOL!

Well- RJB wants to play trains so I am off to be the 'ding-ding' ( railroad light crossing- arm up and down thingy).

Hope you are well.

Scenes Over the Weekend

2007-08-08T15:25:00.001+09:30

I'd like to share some photos taken over the weekend- this first one is of the flower head from a plant commonly called "Black Rose". It's actually a member of the cactus family, I believe. Will have to look it up and edit later.

This is a very close up view of the top of the flower head. This is the first one ours has had.
Below is some of our lavender that is growing in the front garden- with a honey bee on it- which is the whole reason we have the lavender...... the garden centre next door closed down and all the trees and plants are gone and cramped housing with NO trees has replaced it. :( Not only not so great for us, but really bad for the bees- so thankfully these have flowers prfusely all winter long for the bees to enjoy- and we enjoy them! :)

On Sunday we went Geocaching down Willunga way- so thought I would include a few photos that I got taken while out and about. Below are some wild cockatiels, cows and there were even a few ducks in the picture- all sharing some lovely green land. There was a house nearby as well. It was nice to see them all getting along peacefully. This is one of those places where you just can't get a photo to do justice- these cactus ( Century Plants I believe) and red crocosmia combined so well with some purple vinca vine at the base and the large trees and dazzling sky in the background. There was also remainder of an old sandstone house there- but didn't show up in this picture.

This is RJB enjoying his friend the wooly bear caterpillar. There haven't been many this year- so he enjoyed befriending this one for a long while. Thankfully he didn't want to keep him! lol

Thanks for looking and hope you are well.

Clown Face - Unmasked!

2007-08-07T22:45:00.000+09:30

Hope you are well.

Sunny Mundy

2007-08-06T20:49:00.000+09:30

Well! Monday night arrives again~ not alot happened on the weekend as DH worked OT on Friday night and on Saturday ( what a blessing in disguise- I feel a bit more at ease now).
Saturday saw us head out for some groceries and Sunday we went in the mid afternoon to do 3 caches down Willunga way- about 25 mins. drive south of us. We managed to find all three too! The first one was quite a challenge- as it is located along a walking track- one that is paved and on what they call the "Sea and Vines" walk...and let me tell you- there were ALOT of people out for that time of day on a Sunday that was threatening with rain between bright bursts of sunshine. We managed to get the cache and while logging it- DH noticed others walking along and they had a GPS unit in their hands- sure enough they went right to where the cache would've been if we didn't have it! They finally noticed that I was wearing a GPS'r around my neck ( darn! I won't do that again however I *did* have the dog on the leash and was trying to write in the log book to log our find, in a hurry!) but they were good natured about it- and turned their backs while DH hid the cache. Then while we were logging the second find - didn't they drive passed us again! LOL But they drove on and came back after we left. RJB got himself a new little car ( fancy- convertable with flames along the front of the hood/bonnet-wooohoo!) and DH got himself a new little flashlight/torch keychain.... first and third caches respectively. I had chosen a purple one just like this one from the last time we'd gone. :D
Took several photos I'd like to share......
Well! I was *going* to post some photos- but can't get anything to cooperate so will try again tomorrow.
Was a beautiful day today- got lots done - including my clown face all skeined and washed- and is now drying. I think this came out pretty darn nice. Much more even and smaller/thinner than the first plied yarn I did! lol This is probably somewhere around sport weight or reg. worsted weight yarn.... using USA terminology as I can't quite 'get' the Australian way yet.
This is another beautiful yarn that I am just dying to make something from - but have no idea where to start- maybe a pair of mittens? Seems like there was something else I wanted to share- but can't think of it- will write it down if I ever think of it! Let me tell you something- if you like /love yarn and have never tried making your own- DO IT! It is more costly perhaps than buying your favourite Red Heart or even Lion Brand (depending on what you are getting I reckon! )- but the satisfaction of making a yarn NO ONE else will ever create the same as you is really awesome. :)
Am giving up for tonight- will write again A.S.A.P. .
Hope you are well. :)

And They're GONE!

2007-08-03T09:59:00.000+09:30

Well! Mandie got her absolutely gorgeous newest offerings up last night and nearly sold out before they were all listed I think! I am so happy for her! PLEASE click on her name and go have a look at her website to see what I mean.

Speaking of- I got the pics taken of my finished Drought Busta skein- so here it is:

This is showing slightly darker than real life on my monitor- but of course I can't tell what you are seeing exactly- but it is a nice wonderful colour.... i have left it in the twisted skein for now.

I am contemplating what to do with it - Approx. (139 x48" = ) 184 yds..... should be enough to make something of a larger size than a hat or scarf.

Been a busy morning already. Lots more to do.

Nearly done with plying the clown face- but it broke last night ( not sure what happened - but I guess I didnt' spin it tightly enough in that area...) so will have one large skein and one much smaller one- but who cares?- it is fun and pretty!

Edit: > I forgot to add earlier that Mandie has been featured in an interview on the "Lime and Violet" blog- please click * HERE * to go to the interview, it's a very nice read! And I am as proud as punch of her and for her! <

Hope you are well.

Ka-chung?

2007-08-02T11:37:00.000+09:30

What is the past tense for a large amount of money spent without really realising it??

Our electricity bill arrived yesterday- (3months) - $500. ( minus $1.81 to be exact). GULP!

I was figuring on a large bill- but didn't think it would be here this month.....and they so generously gave us a whole 2 weeks to pay it! Isn't it convenient that they happen to put the price per kwh up in the month of July- the coldest month for a long time?!?
All my excitement of owning a new spindle or two went out the roof ( or where ever it is that our heat goes in this house! Door cracks I reckon) and I am doubting getting to the Mt. Pleasant Fibre Festival on Aug. 11. even though I just informed DH in very loud angry tones that I WAS getting there even if he didn't want to go..blah blah blah. We'll see I guess. It *is* still 2 weeks away- something might happen between now and then.

RJB is done with his driving game for on the tv ( playstation or something or other......) so I need to go get things right for him. DH did manage to charge the camera battery at some point last night- so I can take pics today. Am almost done with plying my clown face. It is going MUCH MUCH easier on this makeshift nostepinne. I am very glad to say that! YAY!

We had a really yummy dinner/tea last night that even fussy RJB ate! I was so happy and we all were so full! lol
Will write more about it later........

Hope you are well.

HAPPY AUGUST!

2007-08-01T08:48:00.000+09:30

Well- another month is upon us.

I have just tried to take photos of the recently FOs- but the camera battery is dead and I have no idea where DH has put the charger. So it will be not until he is home, finds the charger, charges the battery for ?? hours that I can take any. See ya tomorrow!
ha ha- just kidding.....
I can try to post for you the lovely assortment of wonderful items from Mandie/EGMTK! that arrived two days ago and I have neglected to write about!
Some items for DH and some for me-here are my goodies -all handdyed by the creative Goddess Mandie herself:

The one to the right is called "Limited Light".
The one below centre is "Hickory Stick" ...... And the one with all the lovely pink and orangey tones is called "Forever Young 2". :)

Does this lady have talent? Yes! A resounding YES!
I can hardly wait for the new stuff to be listed...as of yet- it is just the teaser on her blog.

Thanks also to Mandie for her comment on my plying problem- I will give plying a couple commercial yarn strands to see if it's me and my technique or if it is that I can't figure out how to do the twisty singles that all tangle up on themselves... report later.

Hope you are well.

Done But Not Photographed

2007-07-31T23:31:00.000+09:30

Here are updates to what I have accomplished spinning-wise over the last few days...
I rolled my alpaca yarn into a ball- it measured approx. 76.5 yds....46 loops that measured app. 60 inches each....i *think* i did that math right.
It's all over the place inthickness changes-more than I realised before. But it is still very soft and not sure what the heck I am going to do with it. I had planned some squares and then make into a scarf or something-but....76 yds isn't alot. *sigh*

I got the "Drought Busta" washed and now is all dried- waiting for photos- it has the cutest curly Q's in it- not sure if they will stay once it is released from the skein and put into a ball or not....need photos before I will create a ball/ skein from it....

and tonight I managed to finally finish my Moroccan Nights.... my hands have stopped hurting so much- so spun when I could. Now- I think I am going to try my hand at plying two separate balls of the same stuff....wish me luck....
should be very pretty though.

I am not confident in plying and it makes me mad that I mess up what I have spun pretty well by my lack of ability to ply. >:(

Ah well...... Mandie of Ewe Give Me the Knits is soon going to list more hand dyed (22 micron!) merino rovings in her store.....sneak peak on her blog here ...... so I will soon be obsessing over new stuff to spin. Anyone I can hire to ply? LOL Just kidding.

It's late and I am heading for bed. It was a WINDY day here and we didn't get outside to do anything which bummed me out.....hoping tomorrow will be better......less windy.

Heard from my sister Donna- home safe and sound and busy as busy can be........not sure 'retirement' has the same meaning nowadays as it used to have- she was always so busy anyway- but nowadays she is always on the go. Mostly for doing more fun things than going to work- but she mostly always liked her work anyway. That is a blessing isn't it? Work you don't mind getting up for......wow. [Sending a hug (or 3) your way (((Donna)))]

Hope you are well.

Ramblings,Ravings,& Rovings

Yarns Made Recently

Summertime Delights!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011

Some Photos To Share

It's Nearly Summer *and* The End Of The Year!

July is Busting Out All Over

Longtime No Blog

Back for more!

Pics of Yarn, Yarn, and Oh- Did I Mention Yarn?

Hot enough for ya?

Happy New Year!

Scarf Exchange 2008

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

TWO MONTHS!?!!

PICTURE HEAVY Mt Pleasant SACSOS Fibre and Fleece Fair 2008

Happy August! Some Yarny Goodness

Completed Projects Sharing Time

Happy July!

Trains as Promised

Happy June!

April 16,2008 - In Memorium- Jade

All Things in Moderation, My Dear

Happy Leap Year Day!

Boiled Eggs!

Happy Valentine's Day!

At the Speed of Light!

End of the month already!?

TIZ TEAZLES! available for your admiration

A lovely shawl for COOLER weather!

Happy New Year! ! !

Merry Christmas!

Sunny Sunday Morning

No Whirly Wednesday Day....

Saturday Update

Quick CAL Scarf Pic

Happy December!

Beautiful Sunday Morning

Happy Thanksgiving 2007!

Nature Photos

Frying Friday

Sunset Skyscape Yarn

Strike A Pose- There's Nothing To It....

Friday's Photo-Up Close

Pay It Forward

Happy November! ( a day late...)

HAPPY HALLOWEEEEEEN!!!!!!

Nearly Halloween!

Whirly Wednesday

What a Difference A Day ( or two) Can Make

Tuesday Night

Ravelry arrived

Spin Wednesday Results

Forever Young Finis!

Train ahoy! ?

Downward Spiral

Forever Young 2 Finally Done

Sunday at 1:30 pm

Me want COOKIE!!

You Are NOT Going to Believe This!

Do You Accept Cookies?

It's Sunday

Rest in Peace, Lovey

Wed.Sept.19,2007~ 15 days and counting.....

Happy Birthday Kelly!

Things CAN Get Worse, You Know...

This Is Just Not Right!

Second Verse, Same as the First

Ditto From Yesterday

And Still Nothing...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MANDIE!

Still Nothing

Strike that! Now rewind.....

Did I Really Say That?

Happy September!

Scarf and Hickory Stick to See

A Lunar Eclipse Tonight

P.S. - To My Hubby

Not able to send out emails3

All Sorts... and Not....

It's Nearly Summer and The End Of The Year!