4811 (four thousand eight hundred and eleven)

MILES!!

13 days, 2 National Parks, 1 battlefield, at least one national monument, big horn sheep, mountain goats, moose, elk, deer, buffalo, antelope . . . but, alas, no grizzlies, aside from my cousins who are rabid University of Montana fans GO GRIZ!! And, except for the ones that stretched forever across eastern Colorado and western Kansas, I want to remember every single one of them--the miles, and the rest too.

AND, I got my shot(s) to submit for the knitty.com calendar. The girls really got into the fun of being models .

AND, had a few ideas of their own

The trip was epic in terms of miles, scenery, experience and emotion. I cannot express strongly enough how I HATED it when we moved away from Montana when I was a kid. That has been a life long feeling. In the long spells between trips back, I convince myself that life is better for me here. However, I'm not entirely sure that is true.


Anyway, I am wallowing in a post-vacation-to-Montana-funk while I scheme about how I might manage to find myself living there. So far the best idea I've come up with is to fake my own death, obtain the insurance proceeds, and go live in the mountains. I do see a few problems with that plan and I am willing to consider that it is probably not the best idea I've ever come up with. I'm not finished pondering the matter so I might think of a better plan, maybe even one that does not involve a prison term.

In the meantime, I'll share a few shots from the trip.

Everyone who visits gets a decent photo of Mt. Rushmore--how 'bout this one, taken just outside of the ladies' room.

We saw encouraging signs along the way

and encountered road work

We did not pick up these unsavory hitchikers they were cute but looked too horny (arghhh sorry)

We had a family reunion featuring smokin' cousins, uncles and a potato gun

Oh YES!!! There was beer

and SNOW and cold water and huckleberry pie

But too soon the fun was over and we were left with our memories and photos.

And, that's the end of the trail

PHOTO-KNIT-O-GRAPHY

So, I’m casting about on the world wide web (who says that anymore?) for inventive ways to procrastinate from doing the task at hand (matters not what the task was or that compute-a-teering is in itself procrastination of some order).

LO AND BEHOLD the summer Knitty is up.
And, Knitty announces a photography contest . The challenge is to make a Knitty pattern and feature it in a photo to submit for consideration as a page on the 2009 Knitty calendar. So, the contest is NOT about knitting so much as it is about photography.

Hallelujah!

The hobby gods are good indeed.

One week hence, I am traveling to Montana: Custer Battlefield, Beartooth Pass, Yellowstone, Butte, the Bitterroot, and Glacier Park. Yep–God’s Country–ALL of it. And, I’ll have 2-- no 3-- cameras, a tri-pod and 3 gorgeous college-age girls with me. With a little earnest knitting, I’ll also have 3 swell hats with me too. (hahahahaha. Word play. The name of the hat pattern is "Swell." I don’t care what the hat looks like, since the word “swell” worked, that had to be the pattern).


Anyway, the photo possibilities are limited only by the girls’ cooperation with my scheme (and maybe my ability to produce 3 hats). So, at lunch time I’m off to get another gig or two of memory for my digital camera.

For the rest of y’all (note to self: do NOT say y’all in Montana):
STEP AWAY FROM THE SHUTTER BUTTON . . . your entries are futile.

I’m on a calendar domination mission here and will not be deterred. (Unless, of course Eric gets a killer shot of his tarantula on some lace. There’d just be no competing with somethin’ like that).

I'm Baaaaaaack!

I thought it had only been a few weeks since my last post–oops! time flies.
Alex got home from OU on a Friday at 8:30pm and we were up at 4 the next morning to get to a bike race in Arkansas for an 8 am start time. The following Tuesday I fetched daughter Meredith from school (5 hours away) and then on Friday of the same week delivered her (3 hours away) to the camp where she’ll be working all summer . Two weeks later Alex left for Philmont Boy Scout Ranch in New Mexico where he’ll work as a ranger all summer.

S o o o o o, Kelly, the dogs, and I are . . . alone again, naturally.

FreeWheel, the Oklahoma cross-state bike ride, is taking place this week. For the first time in 13 years, I’m not riding–makes me a little sad.

I really haven’t been knitting, or even spinning but I seem to be busy. What have I been doing??? Well, I’ve sewn some and have a few new outfits to show for that effort. I’ve taken Chai through another obedience class and have enrolled him in our first obedience trial which will take place in a few weeks. If you know Chai, you know what a paradox that is. I spent an entire weekend watching the Tulsa Tough Bike Races. I’ve planned my route for the epic trip to Montana Meredith and I are taking together for a reunion. I’ve been to my nephew’s wedding, the bride chewed gum during the ceremony–‘nuf said. (was that bitchy?) And, I’ve been on my annual summer reading binge. I’ve read 8 novels in the last month not exactly a record but with the other stuff, I guess that’s what’s been keeping me busy.

HA! When I look back over the books I’ve read recently, I notice that my selections sort of reflect my approach to nearly everything in my life. I tend to take a concentrated ad hoc buckshot approach to everything. I know that doesn’t make a damned bit of sense, but that’s the point really.

And now, without further ado . . . in the order in which they were read, as best I can remember . . .
1– Eat, Pray, Love (I’m ambivalent about this one–I don’t think this author is someone I’d care to hang with at all–I think she’d irritate the snot out of me, but I’m really glad she found herself so I don’t have to read any more about it–maybe ambivalent is not the right word here).
2– Kite Runner (I’ll certainly read more of his stuff).
3– Whitethorn Woods by Maeve Binchey (I LOVE her characters. I haven’t read all of her books, I sort of dole them out to myself so I’ll have some more for later. And, I'd really like to hang with Maeve for a while, but I'd probably irriate her, isn't that how things work?).
4– Catcher in the Rye (no, I had not read this before, I was probably supposed to have done so at some point).
5– Jumper by Steven Gould (Steve is my husband’s first cousin. The book has been out a while, I figured I’d better read it. It might make a good movie . . . oh it is a movie–never mind).
6– Lean, Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich (Her books are so stupid, but I love ‘em).
7– River God by Wilbur A. Smith (I really enjoyed this book about ancient Egypt. Some time ago I read Cry Wolf by the same author I can’t for the life of me remember what it was about, but I liked it too).
8-The Seventh Scroll by Wilbur A. Smith (This is a sequel, sort of, to River God. It is a present-day quest for an ancient tomb that was built in River God which was set in 2000 BC, these two books were really fun).

What’s up next?? The Warlock by Wilbur A. Smith (I just bought this at lunch, it looks like Smith takes the reader back to ancient Egypt with a continuation of the Pharaoh dynasty introduced in River God ).

I went to knit night last night and am now all fired up to knit and spin myself into oblivion. But, I should really get upstairs and finish sewing up some of the linen I have, then I can concentrate on knitting. Or, I could photograph my new fiber so my Ravelry stuff is up to date. On the other hand, if I don’t get out and work with Chai some, we’ll completely embarrass ourselves at the show. But then I’ve got that new book in my purse. And, my YMCA membership has been idle for a while. I really should ride my bike, I know it misses me. Perhaps, I’ll just engage in some escapism, I wonder what that would look like?

Dogs, Hogeye, Spinning Yarns & Sushi!

As you can probably tell from the title of this post, last weekend was darn near perfect.

As weekends tend to do, it all commenced Friday evening. Both of my dogs passed their beginning obedience class test at Tulsa Dog Training Club, so of course (of course!) there was a graduation ceremony. There were handmade mortar boards for the occasion, various demonstrations of dog obedience and cookies for dogs and humans. There were probably 100 dogs there--what a hoot!!

Since Alex is home on spring break I required him to attend to take pictures. Hubby had to go too to handle one of the dogs. Obedience graduation or not, my attempts to handle 145 pounds of dog split between 2 leashes is alway a disaster. Alex reluctantly participated and entertained himself by taking only 150 photos, just half of which were mom-shots. (those are the horribly unflattering ones your kids take of you at the worst possible angle). Anyway, I told Alex that dog graduation was merely the initial phase of my week-long plan to subject him to maximum parental dorkiness. I figure that will encourage him to do well in school and become gainfully employed so as never to be tempted to live with us again. (I do like having him here, but . . . )
Anyway, here I am with graduate, Chai.

And the black guy is the very charming Bentley.

Saturday I blew off the usual house cleaning chores in favor of attending the Tulsa Handspinners Guild meeting. They are interesting folks with interesting information to share. !!Bad pun ALERT!! No point in re-inventing the wheel. ARGHHHHHH.

Saturday afternoon knit nite Emma her mother and knit nite Eric all came over to try out my spinning wheel. By the end of the day Emma had procured a used Kiwi (wheel, not fruit or bird). My contribution can hardly count as fiber enabling since Emma arrived at my house with that wild-eyed I'm-gonna-get-me-a-wheel look about her.

And, speaking of spinning I've plied this Colonial top.

AND, I'm making the so-called scarf from my handpun Corriedale in the mermaids tail colorway. I got 180 yards of 2 ply at 9-10 wraps per inch from 5 ounces (141.75 gm) of fiber. So, it's heavy worsted/aran weight. And my first knit from any handspun.



Sunday found us up at 4am to get loaded up for a (drum roll) bike race. Alex and 2 of his buddies decided to go to the Hell's Kitchen race in ('nother drum roll) Hogeye, Arkansas.
In keeping with the spring break onslaught of dorkiness, his Dad and I both insisted on going. Besides, one should never miss an opportunity to visit Hogeye.

Last year in this particular race Alex was super-fit and expected to finish in the top 3, if not win the race. BUT, he went waaay too hard, ate too little, blew up, bonked and finished dead last. Actually, not last--he was 19th, but it felt like last place because he expected to win. This year the field was bigger, he's not training as much and honestly expected to spend the day as pack filler (that's an unflattering term for guys who race, but have no hope of ever winning or placing). BUT, he felt good, rode a smart race and came in 5th. So much for expectations, the power of positive thinking and all that. I'm sure there's a lesson here, but I can't quite put my finger on what it's supposed to be.

This was pal Connor's first bike race (he's a runner who did a personal best 5K time of 16:11 on Saturday, beating his previous record by 31 seconds! Go Connor). This was pal Will's 4th race. They both finished in the top 15 of their category.

Alex, Will, and Connor.

AND NOW, the moment you've been waiting for
(I know it's supposed to be: "the moment for which you've been waiting" but that sounds stupid, even to me)

ANNOUNCING a NEW SUSHI FAVORITE

The volcano roll at Fuji

Don't remember what's in it, don't care--go get one.

Sheep (and goat) Shearing

On Sunday Kate of Lowder Farms in Kelleyville invited folks out to watch the sheep being sheared. I went.

It was cool to see the vast differences between the fibers from the various types of sheep. I took a whole roll of B&W film and a few digital shots (with my new camera). Here are some photos of an angora goat being sheared.




And here is sheared mama goat with baby.



My husband was sure I'd come home with a big bag of sheep poop and straw to try to spin. I only managed to get 12 oz of ramboulet (sp?) roving and a couple of skeins of local alpaca yarn. He was surprised, this is the first time in recent memory I've exercised any restraint at all.

Horse Trading 101

It all started when I sold some camera equipment to get a spinning wheel. . .

Then, I let my daughter take the little point-and-shoot digital I'd been using to college, 'cause she dropped her camera--again and really did ruin it this time. Then, I decided the old digital SLR camera I had was too clunky and slow for the action shots I like to take (of what? yarn? ) so, I put my old Canon on e-bay thinking I'd use the money to get a more compact zoom-lens digital. BUT, I read some camera reviews that convinced me I'd really hate to give up the control an SLR offers ('cause ya need a LOT of control to photograph yarn). AND, while I was prowling on e-bay, I just happened to find ANOTHER spinning wheel that might be cool to have to use for plying, 'cause it had really big bobbins. And the whole spinning wheel (mailed from the Netherlands) would cost just a little more than the jumbo flyer I'd like to have for plying. PLUS, changing flyers looks like a big pain in the butt, 'cause you have to unscrew stuff. (I don't mind screwing so much, but unscrewing--no thank you). Can you see where I'm headed here?

EXACTLY! When the fiber all settled somehow there is a new Ashford Traditional spinning wheel (and assorted fibers) in the family room, a Pentax K10D camera (and assorted memory cards and stuff) nearby, and a goofy-looking old spinning wheel (now named Ricky Warpington because he is rickety and a little warped) (and even more assorted fibers) in the craft room. Did selling stuff really pay for all the new stuff? Are you kidding? Can you put a price on fun?

Anyway, here's what I've spun so far:
It took a WHOLE pound of fiber to get this 150 feet of plied yarn, but I did it!

The blue-green stuff on Ricky's flyer is plied corriedale. I bought the dyed roving on Etsy, it's called mermaid tail--a lot more green than the picture appears.

Here is my Ashford with a bobbin almost full of colonial top in the spiced cider colorway (do you call dyed roving a colorway?), I got the roving from Meilke (sp?) an on-line store. The Ashford is named Gladys, after my grandmother who never wanted any of us to have her name because kids called her "happy-ass" when she was a kid--you get it glad/happy . . . . Since I was the first grandchild, I'm especially glad and happy that Grandma's name wasn't shared.

Love The Babies--HATE the blanket

I've been fighting the first of two blankets I've been making for a set of twins for some time. I absolutely HATE the novelty yarn I'm using. Oh, it LOOKS cute, but it sticks to every little rough spot on the hands. The stupid little pom pom balls have to be poked back through the knitting to make the right side look . . . right. I just hate it.

I KNOW you can knit love into an item, what if you can also knit loathing? Would the babies be doomed? Would the knitter be doomed? I just cannot bear the responsibility of continuing to knit something I hate for babies. The damned thing cannot be frogged because again, those stupid little balls are stuck in the stitches. So . . .




Bye Bye Blankie




WheW!!!! That was liberating!!!!!!

The babies still need a knitted gift, so I whipped these out.


These baby UGG booties are made of Berroco Suede yarn (nylon). They are trimmed in an alpaca/silk blend. (Never too early to get that habit started). The pattern is available free
on DIYnetwork.com .

I've seen quite a few comments that the pattern makes REALLY big booties, more suitable to toddler size. I altered the pattern to size them down to baby size. Here is what I did:

Use size 1 and 2 needles (pattern calls for sizes 4 & 5, or 5 & 6, depending on size).
Cast on 12 stitches (pattern calls for casting on 26 stitches).

For rows 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9, change the K11 to K4.

Shape Instep:
Row 1 k 22, SKP, turn (pattern calls for K 29)
Row 2 change k 7 to k 6
Row 3 change p 7 to p 6

Rows 4-13 omit rows 12 & 13, this means you will repeat rows 2 and 3; 4 times (pattern says repeat 5 times)

Row 15 change k 7 to K 6
Row 16 change p21 to p 14 (the row is 23 stitches, pattern says 35 stitches)

Do the remainder of the pattern the same.

And, finally . . . here is the SWATCH OF DEATH
Check out the Yahoo Group Hat Attack
And come play too!!!

Hat Attack is patterned after the Sock Wars you may have heard about. It is a friendly assassination game, here's how it works:
1- you sign up on the Yahoo Group
2- You are assigned a "target" and give his/her address
3- You "kill" your target by knitting him/her a hat following the prescribed pattern (which will be released on 2/8) and mailing the hat.
4- If you receive a hat, you're dead.
5- If you get dead, you must put your hat-in-progress on waste yarn and mail it to your assassin who will complete the hat and mail it to your target . . . and on and on.

Anyway, we've been the info that the hat will have cables, is suitable for Lambs Pride Worsted and have been given the gauge. With my Swatch of Death, I'm ready to play.