A taste of things to come

Here's a few photos of some of the handspun yarns I have listed or will list during this week in my shop. They're going to be priced MUCH lower than normal in order to get some cash flowing into my anemic bank account.

hi there

Wow, it's been a while, eh? I've been in quite a long, drawn-out funk. I'm not a fan of my job (anybody want to hire me? For anything?) for several reasons, and it's affecting my brain pretty heavily.

However, this weekend marks the first weekend I have off since I told my boss "no more weekends!!". Even though this means my hours are being cut roughly in half, I can't tell you how happy I've been since I got off work Friday. It's completely worth it (not to mention the fact I'll actually get to spend time with Big Man again).

One sign of this happiness is that I'm interested in spinning again! Oh, I had done some during the bleaker days, but I wasn't *excited* about it. Now I am. Due to the hours being cut, I plan to work hard and get things listed in my Etsy shop at enough of a discount to (hopefully) ensure they sell just to get some more money coming in. I'm just spinning my fingers off, and it feels great. I owe a local Ravelry/LSG friend a debt of gratitude for getting me going, as she is paying me to custom spin some rovings she fell in love with.

I plan to take photos tomorrow, as this afternoon was spent spinning and napping (and, I kind of forgot I was supposed to take them). I hereby swear to post photos on this blog in the next few days of beautiful fibery things. Oh wait! I DO have a picture of the skein I test-spun for my Ravelry/LSG friend!

50ish yards, 4oz of hand-dyed merino from Fat Cat Knits, her colorway Deep Woods (I called it Sea Glass)

And just for fun, here's my buddy Sampson at the Wild Animal Park (where I met said friend this morning). I don't really know if it's true, but I like to think he remembers me, as every time I go into the aviary he hangs out in, he always comes right to the front of his tree and hams it up and looks like he wants to jump onto my shoulder. I say this because I've observed him from the entrance (where he can't see me), and he just sort of hangs out on the tree not doing a lot for other folks. I do usually spend at least 15 minutes talking to him every time we go.

Today he danced for me! I'd never seen that. Of course, that was when my camera died, so you'll have to move your head up and down in front of this photo and pretend.

He's a hyacinth macaw, and part of the reason I realllllllly want a big bird. His beak (and a lack of funds and space) is part of the reason I don't have one. I'm a weenie.

Maybe the lifting of the funk will mean more blogging too--it feels fun right now, whereas in the past it felt a bit like a chore or duty. Here's hoping! Now I'm off to spin some more...

You must eat this NOW.

Immediately, drop whatever you're doing and go straight to the nearest grocery store. You MUST try this flavor of ice cream.



I know it's been out for a while, and I'm late to the party. But it's soooooo gooooooooooood.

Also, if anyone knows where I can get my hands on some Ben & Jerry's Coconut Seven Layer Bar ice cream (short of going to a scoop shop), PLEASE let me know!

I'm a thief.

My lovely friend Susan has a recurring feature on her blog of "Probably Something You Would Like". I'm stealing that idea to share some things with you that I like, and hopefully you will too!

I adore Smitten Kitchen's blog. LOADS of wonderful recipes, all very well-written and photographed, and I have yet to find a problem with anything I've cooked. Well, baked, as I usually go for the goodies. I also bought some of her prints to put up in my kitchen. They look lovely, if I say so myself. Well, if you ignore the horrible rental "white" paint and the ugly window.


The artwork found in AmberAlexander's shop is *amazing*. I'm in love, and want to wallpaper my wool room in her prints. I especially like this one of an octopus.

Artwork property of and courtesy of AmberAlexander

Lookit this amazing fiber bowl! It's machine stitched on soluble fabric, and is just astounding to me. ChocolateFrog really is an expert at this most unusual art.

Image courtesy of ChocolateFrog

Not Always Right kills me, every time. Customers say the darndest things!

You've probably seen this before, but I lurve it. The kitty makes me happy.

Well, I think that's it for now. I don't get out much anymore--work, sleep, sometimes on my days off I get to cook or do fibery things. I'll see if I come up with anything interesting for a post next week--if not, maybe this will be an intermittent feature!

Friday Funny

I snagged these from this month's issue of Vegetarian Times.


A couple sits down at a diner. The husband orders a burger, and his wife gets the veggie burger. The waitress yells back to the cook " Two burgers, one regular and one de-calf!"

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Why did the tofu cross the road?






To prove he wasn't chicken!

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A man walks into the doctor's office with carrots in his nose and broccoli in his ears. He says, "Hey doc, I still don't think I'm eating right."

Well, hello there.

I am still here. Things have been, well, a bit topsy-turvy in my head the last couple of months. I'm trying to straighten myself out and settle down. It's slow going, but it is going, at least a little bit.

I've been trying to get used to my new job, and doing some knitting, and some spinning, and lots of nothing too. I might have a finished object to show you, but, well, someone has been holding me up.




That's the inside of the finished back of my Estes Vest. Clio decided it was wonderful and the perfect bed, so it has been naught but a bed for some time now. I've also finished one side and part of another, and will be buying a skein of grey Lamb's Pride to make her her very own bed, so she can stop usurping my knitting.

I'm going to try to post more often. I did hear a good joke recently, so look for a Friday Funny this week. Oh, before I forget--I'm going to Rhinebeck this fall! For those of you who aren't fiber fanatics, Rhinebeck is the informal name for the New York State Sheep & Wool Festival, and it is one of the two biggest on the East Coast, if not in the country. I'm considering it research, as I'd really love to make a living traveling to different markets with my yarns, and selling online and wholesale in between festivals.

Till next time, keep knitting, spinning, spending time with your loved ones--whatever it is that makes you tick and keeps you happy!

Virtual Cat

Because I forgot to take the camera to the beach this weekend and because I've done nothing but knit, watch Mythbusters on DVD, and that single beach trip, I have nothing to show you (though if the sun stays out, I'll snap some pics of the finished back of my Estes vest). However, I figured we could all use some time with a snoozing kitty, who is ever-so-happy to have me home all day. You might be able to hear her tiny little snores. If not, she's still calming and cute. Hope it brightens your day even a little.