Eat.Knit.Sleep

This is what my new toy looked like when I posted yesterday:

You can see some of my fiber stash spilling out of the closet there.

This is what my new friend looks like now:

This is the most enjoyable, consistent, usable spinning of done so far, and that alone makes it worth the price of admission.

I also want to share my beautiful new orifice hook, which matches the BFL top I'm using perfectly.

On a different note, growing up really sucks. It sucks for a lot of reasons, but today it is really bothering me because you start to think about your future in a different way. When I was younger, I thought about my future all the time as the light at the end of the tunnel; Adulthood would be a respite after the turbulence of adolescence. Lately, I find myself thinking a lot about how my actions now will inform my future, and it is making for a rather difficult present. I need some change in my life and I'm not sure of how to get it.

Now, I will distract myself with blurry pictures of baby bunnies

Posted by Jenny at 02:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Today was a bit of disaster with 2 highlights . . .

C found another nest of sorts while weeding. This one was in the ground, and was two VERY cute baby rabbits.

I also got to spend some time with my new toy the Woolee Winder. So far so good.

Posted by Jenny at 10:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

is living in my flower basket! Actually, as of today there are 5 little birdies and a mommy and daddy.

This is before the rest hatched.

I actually felt like I was 26 and not 62 this week, which was nice, but it also means not much time for knitting, spinning, and blogging this week. Hopefully I will squeeze some time in between the yard work this weekend.

Yay for no work until Tuesday!

Posted by Jenny at 08:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

This is the current state of Ariann after I wrapped my head around joining the sleeves and starting the raglan decreases. I am still enjoying this sweater very much.

I'm in my room keeping Oscar calm while C vacuums, and am going to be spending some time playing around with Ravelry.

Posted by Jenny at 11:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

but evidence of progress!

This is actually the second sleeve of Ariann which means I might actually have a finished object some time this millennium.

I had a good time in Cleveland, but time with my family always makes me reevaluate what I'm doing with my life, as my family always seems to be doing something more meaningful and seem more content with their respective lives.

Apparently, my introspection makes me somewhat difficult to be around, and thus C has been feeling a bit like this lately.

I'm tired and it is hot, and I have to go out to dinner with the boss from hell tomorrow so I leave you with Oscar on the road . . .

CLOSEUP!!!

I love that dog!

Posted by Jenny at 09:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

to Cleveland. As we are driving, I'm hoping to have knitting to show you when I return as it is a lot of time in the car.

Have a great weekend!

Posted by Jenny at 08:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ok, one of my guilty pleasures is the show Work Out on Bravo. Watching it makes me feel both really fat and lazy and motivated to work out. Problem is that I catch it either when I'm sick, or feeling lazy late at night so the working out never really happens.

I've been saying as long as I've been saying I'll post more here that I want fitness to be a part of my life. I don't know how much I meant it, as mostly I was just concerned with the number on my scale. I'm still concerned with that number and wish it was about 20 lbs. less than it is, but really I just want some energy back. I want to be able to stay up late if I want, or get up early if I want, and not feel that I just can be a lump when I get home from work. I also don't want to feel guilty if I DO feel like being a lump.

I read Crazy Aunt Purl, and I admire her "Not a Diet" and I want to adopt that for myself, with a a "Not a Workout," plan or some sort of mindset that gets me healthy and happy but maintains my sanity. I feel liek posting this type of thing here, keeps me accountable so expect more of that here in the coming posts.

I've also been noticing a lack of comments when I don't have a big bandage on my face, so now I know what brings you guys out! I've decided on the Wildfoote for my pal, because I don't want the beautiful handpaint to be wasted on me, when I have the opportunity to knit it for someone who will really love the colors. I haven't picked a pattern yet though, so if you have any ideas let me know.

I've been spinning

On the left, the basic wool that came with my wheel, and on the right some 2-ply BFL that came with my original spindle kit. Very thick and thin as I had trouble with the first single, and I must have spun much finer with the second bobbin as I have tons left over even though both were made with the same amount of fiber. I'm thinking of trying Navajo plying with the leftovers just for kicks.

I've also been knitting away on the second sleeve for Ariann which is a very enjoyable knit. And drinking this

as C needs the bottles for homebrew. Mmmm beer.

Posted by Jenny at 11:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So I signed up for Sockapalooza 4 even though I'm not much of a joiner, and when I was in NJ this weekend for a friend's wedding I did a little yarn shopping for her.

She lives in So Cal where it is mild in climate and she likes purple and green. She said she either likes patterned socks in solid or semi-solid colors, or plain socks in beautiful variegated yarns. She also would be interested in cotton-blend or lighter-weight socks she said. Going through my stash, and with the purchase made on Saturday, I think I have two options.

Collinette Jitterbug in a beautiful semi-solid purple. I would have the option to do a more patterned sock here. Problem is, my pal has slightly larger feet than I do, which are a women's 8.5-9 and the yardage on the Jitterbug is pretty slight, especially when taking into account a textured pattern. I'd also have ZERO problem making myself some anklets with this stuff!

I also found this in my stash, which is lovely, but also not colors I'd wear, and it has the prerequisite purple and green.

With the Wildfoote I wouldn't worry about yardage, but I'd feel weird making very plain socks, so I suppose I could do a bit of a fancy rib.

What do you guys think?

I'm a little sad today as one of my favorite people at work quit/was pushed out on Friday when I was out and it makes me really hate my job and boss right now. And one of my little baby Basil's bit it while we were away as well:

Posted by Jenny at 05:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I meant to post this last week . . .

Posted by Jenny at 11:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As of today, C and I have been living together 5 years. Those of you that know us might understand why that is such an accomplishment.

He has seen me through all the good and all the bad (and there was a fair bit) that comes with your early 20s. Hopefully, not just MY early 20s.

This weekend was both good and bad, and not much knittiing was done. Friday was fantabulous. I left work after a half a day, C and I dropped the pup at my Dad's and went to Princeton for Indian Food, Medeski Martin and Wood, and the Bent Spoon. Great concert, awesoom food, wonderful night.

Saturday we got up early, got some breakfast and spent the morning reading until my Dad got back to his place, then we went out for lunch with him before heading down to Philly. C was meeting the guys for a bachelor party, and I had a date with Rosie's Yarn Cellar, where I purchased some Calmer to make a CeCe. Then I met up with my cousin, with whom I discovered, I cannot hold my own with Business School People.

No joke, these people drink like fishes, and Sunday was not fun. Not fun at all.

The experience has lead me to reevaluate my drinking. I'm not saying that I'm quitting, or that I have a problem, but that I've noticed that with more than 3 drinks I don't make good choices for my health. I sometimes "forget" that I quit smoking, I drink more, and I eat badly so that needs to stop just to take better care of myself and avoid hangovers from hell.

I'm a knitter, spending an entire day on the couch without the energy to knit, and it was brought on only by my stupidity . . .not worth it.

Posted by Jenny at 02:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)