The Results of My Weekend

Here is the sock I started in Cookie A's Sock Innovation class at Knitter's Connection.  The yarn is from Fiber Optic in Sapphire.  It is a superwash merino/nylon blend.  The colors are absolutely gorgeous and it is a dream to knit with.  I can't wait to get these done.  I just hope the socks fit right.

Here are the skeins  I made this weekend during my first attempt at spinning.  The cream is about 50 yards of sport-worsted weight.  The multi is about 70 years of mostly fingering weight.  Not sure what I'm going to make from them yet.  I'd like to make a cowl from the multi, but not sure if I have enough.

Round and Round He Goes

Patty came into to town to go to Knitter's Connection with me.  We took Cookie A's Sock Innovation class.  It was fantastic!!  She brought a lot of the sock's that are included in her book.  They are even more fabulous in person.  I have my sock on the needles.  I'll post a picture when I have a few more repeats of the pattern done.

Another highlight of Knitters Connection was discovering Fiber Optic.  These ladies make absolutely beautiful yarn.  The yarn I'm using for the Cookie A socks are from their booth.  I also bought two other skeins.  Yummy!  Yummy!

Friday night and Saturday were spent learning to spin.  Patty brought her wheel and a bag for of wool.  Some of the wool was left its natural color and others were dyed with left-over Easter egg dyes.  Those color were fun to play with.  Below is a picture of Blake getting a lesson from his Aunt Patty.  He chose orange and blue for his first spin.

I spun the natural on Friday night and took up the multi-colored fun after Blake gave up.   I found myself getting so focused on what my hands were doing I would forget about my feet and I'd start pedaling too fast. 

Here is the natural after it took a bath this morning.

Here is the multi-colored after its bath.

Now I need to figure out what to do with them.  I think a little cowl of some sort might just be in order.

No Time to Waste

It's strawberry season in central Ohio.  Actually, it is coming to a close soon.  Last year I made freezer jam, which Blake loved.  He requested more after consuming my entire batch.  This morning I went up to a local pick-your-own farm and brought home 4 quarts.  I made freezer jam with half.  The remaining strawberries are going to become a pie.  My mom gave me her strawberry pie recipe.  It is a family favorite.  Unlike some recipes, it does not use gelatin.   I'll have to think of a good meal to go with that special dessert.

I'm back to making progress on the Taize shawl. It goes to work with me everyday. About 3 days a week I'm able to get a few rows in over lunch. It is approaching the 1/3 done mark. I'd like to get this done by the fall and then keep it at the office. It will be nice to wrap myself in, especially later this year when the project I'm working one reaches its deadline. The move-to-production date is October 1. That weekend will be a long, exhausting one. I don't anticipate being home much between September 13 to mid-November. Having this shawl with me will help.

  

Of course I can't just work on one project.  I'm also trying to make progress on Decimal.  I've finished the body up to the armholes.  I'm now working on the left sleeve.  This is my 'sitting in front of the television' project.  Below are a couple photos of it.  The color in the first photo is closest to reality.  The second photo is a close-up of the sleeve.

Next Thursday my sister Patty is coming into town.  We will be attending Knitters Connection.  We are taking a class from Cookie A on Friday.  I can't wait.  Also, Patty is going to bring her spinning wheel and some roving. She is going to attempt to teach me how to spin.  We'll see how that goes.

One for the History Books

The school year has come to a close.  All three kids achieve outstanding grades and created lasting memories.  I am so proud of all three for what they accomplished this year.  Here is a blurry picture of Trisha as she leaves middle school for the last time as an 8th grader.  I can't believe she is going to be in high school!!

Unfortunately the kids have had to learn some very hard life lessons.  About 2 weeks ago, one of the star football players from the high school drowned.  Kristin knew him pretty well since he briefly dated one of her friends, was in the class ahead of hers, and was friends with the guy that took her to prom.  His death brought back all the pain and sorrow from the tragic death of another friend back in December.  Then, two nights before school was to let out for the summer, Trisha learned that one of her classmates had taken his own life.  That tragedy has left me stunned.  Trisha and I have talked.  She's asked 'Why?' and I've told her that there will never be a way to understand what all was going through his head to make him feel that that was the only solution.  The accidental deaths are no less tragic, but they are easier to understand 'Why'.  All we can do is pray for them and their families.  And hug and kiss our own kids as often as we can.

The summer is already packed with activities.  Blake and Trisha have camps to head off to.  Kristin has volleyball conditioning and a 3-day-a-week babysitting job.  I have Knitters Connection and a girls' weekend away. Ed has his 6th Ironman Triathlon.  Together we have a week at the beach.  We may not be able to fit in a trip to Tennessee this year.  The kids are going to be disappointed about that, but I'm not sure when we'd be able to fit it in.

On the knitting front, I finished the baby blanket for my friend, but forgot to take a photo of it before gifting it.  I'll see if I can get my friend to forward a picture to post.  I'm now trying to get Decimal finished.  I have another summer sweater waiting in the queue, but have vowed not to start it until Decimal is off the needles.