Walk, Work, Walk, Repeat

My week in less than a nutshell:

Chapter 1:

Walk the Dog

Go To Work

Walk the Dog

Sleep

Chapter 2:

Walk the Dog

Go To Work

Walk the Dog

Sleep

Chapter 3:

Walk the Dog

Go To Work

Walk the Dog

Sleep

Chapter 4 (the one with the exciting story line):

Walk the Dog

Go To Work

Walk the Dog

Empty Half the Dishwasher (bet you didn't see that coming did you)

Sleep

Chapter 5

Walk the Dog

Go To Work

Walk the Dog

Sleep

I think it is a very good thing that the weekend is almost here......

A Day on the Farm

Yesterday I got to spend part of the day at Farm Fest at Rising Meadow Farm. I had been to this farm in the spring for sheep shearing day and got an email a couple of weeks ago about their fall festival.

There were alpacas visiting from a nearby farm.

We got to see someone spinning angora right off the bunny. Yes, that pile of fluff in her lap is a live bunny. Apparently when they are shedding their coat, spinning right off of them is the thing to do.......

There were approximately 30 vendors. Fiber, soaps, yarns, books, hand knitted items, homemade coconut cake (can I just say YUM!) there was lots of variety.

I'm really glad I went. If you have a local farm nearby, be sure to get on their mailing list so you don't miss out on the fun!

A brag on my boy-man-child

OK, so I hope you understand. I can't resist the opportunity to brag a bit on my boy-man-child.

You see, he just started college this fall. That's not what I'm bragging about, (though we're mighty proud of how he's doing). What I'm bragging about is that he had one of his photograph's accepted into a gallery in Charleston, SC and that he's built himself a website that showcases some of his best work to date.

If you are interested in some really interesting photos, taken from the unique perspective of a budding young photographer & web guru, take a few minutes, try not to hold your breath (you'll be tempted), and let me know what you think of 'my boy's' talents. Here's his website link. I'm so looking forward to seeing what he does with his future.

Can't say I didn't warn you

So it turns out that a dog + goose poop = a nasty smelling green dog in need of several baths. I feel a responsibility to tell you that.

College, Alaska & The New Job

During the past three weeks, I have:

1. Watched our son move away to college. With three weeks of perspective, I can tell you that we are all adjusting & he seems quite happy. It's good to know we've done our job to this point and he is adapting well on his own.

2. Both my husband and I visited our 50th state. Knowing the boy-man-child move to college was looming, we planned for some distraction and spent an incredible two weeks in Alaska. A few photos for proof. I left these photos large, so you can click on them and get a larger image.

We saw glaciers. Lots of them. Glacier Bay must certainly be one of the most beautiful places in the world. I'm so grateful that it is a National Park and will be protected.

My lightweight traveling spinning wheel (a Majacraft Little Gem) joined me on the trip. It was an incredible place to spin!

We went hiking near Mt. McKinley in Denali State Park.

We went kayaking on Byers Lake. We had the lake, the view, the loons and the sockeye salmon all to ourselves. Fabulous doesn't even begin to describe it.

The experience is already fading a bit. Hopefully the photographs will help bring it all back on demand......

3. I started a new full-time job right after the Alaskan vacation. It's a government job, and I'm not allowed to show you a photograph of my office, but I survived the first week. I remember the first names of all my co-workers and their job titles. Mine also........ it was a good week and I'm looking forward to the new challenges.

The Black Hole of Digital Photos

I was looking through some of my digital photos today, searching for a particular photo.

No, I didn't find it, but thanks for asking.......

Instead I came across these photos from Guanujuato Mexico that I took

last fall when I was visiting our daughter.

She spent a semester there.

I spent a long weekend.

It was a nice town. I enjoyed my time there, but I suspect that's mostly because I was with my girl and she speaks the language.

Back to the black hole of digital photo files. Has anyone figured out a way to get a handle on these things????? If so, please share some tips before I get so far into the hole I can't find my way out!

ETA: I left these photos large, so you can click on them and see lots of detail. Enjoy!

Does Size Really Matter?

My intent was to make myself a largish knitting bag. I followed the pattern instructions completely. Well, except for doubling the yarn as I knit it and using size 15 needles instead of size 11. Oh, and using a completely different yarn than the pattern calls for. Other than that, honestly, I followed the instructions completely.

So now to seam the sides, add an i-cord edge at the top, felt it (here's where the bag might breathe new life) and then figure out what kind of handles to put on it that won't completely fail when I try to pick the bag up. Stay tuned. It'll either be a fabulous bag, or I'll be able to smuggle Rhode Island through airport security.

Swimming With Turtles

Just for fun - life's not always all about the fiber -

- take a deep breath and enjoy!

ETA: yes, that is me in the video.

Wool Combs

Two days ago I became slightly obsessed with learning about wool combs.

Yesterday I borrowed a set of English combs from a fiber friend.

I washed up a small quantity of Blue Faced Leicester fiber. Note: click photos to see more detail.

I put it on one of the combs, which is clamped down to a workbench. Doesn't look too promising at this point.

I started combing, using what I had learned from this great YouTube video. Oh my, what a transformation!

I am completely smitten with this tiny nest of combed wool BFL top. My heart is beating faster just looking at the photo........

I think owning a set of wool combs must be in my fiber future........

If you own a set of combs, I'd love to hear what you like and don't like about them - there are so many different types available. Also, since I'll be shopping for my own set of combs, please share any advice on that as well. Thanks!

Learning New Things

I love to learn or experience new things. New processes, new projects, new challenges, new ways of looking at things.

In addition to striving to be a better spinner, today I learned how to create a photo collage.

This was my first attempt at spinning yarn to knit myself some socks.

I think the yarn agrees that this is a good plan, since I already caught the

woolly goodness inside my boots heading for the woods.