Sorry I've been gone.

Life has been really busy for the past month. Let's see, since I last posted, we have had a month of football, cheerleading, Tri-state fair lamb show, work, work and MORE work, and a trip to Taos, New Mexico for the annual WOOL FESTIVAL!! Whew.

I must, however, show you what my husband cutely calls my "wooly plunder" from the wool festival. Yes, that's a spindle. I have found my way into the light. Now I simply need to figure out how to use it!

I also finished my shawl I was working on out of the baby loop mohair. It is really gorgeous. I had hoped to figure a way to embellish the edges, since it is a simple mohair rectangle but cannot find a yarn that would be light enough not weigh it down. I like the airy-ness of it. You can't really see it in the first pic but the close up of the fabric shows it better.

I have begun working on a mistak rib scarf for my hub out of one of the wools I brought back from the festival. It is working up nicely and I'll try to have a pic of it and more info to come. I have more of the same wool, and I want to do a hat with the same stitch for my 16 mos. old grandson. My daughter wants a poncho, too. What's a girl to do?

Better get knitting.

L.

Too busy to post!

I have been really bad. I am here to redeem myself, however. I have pictures! First, the pic of the most wonderful final gift from my fab secret pal, Red. Go visit her blog. She has created the most awesome of shawls.

Anyway, here's the swag I received from her. Isn't it lovely? She created it herself!!
I used it to carry my latest project to daughter's ballet lesson and got compliments on the bag!
It kinda went like this: "Whatcha makin?"

Me: "It will be a shawl."

"Oh. (pause) Cool Bag!"

Me: "Thanks."

I'm glad I have a well adjusted ego.

And, here's the first-ever felting project I did for MY secret pal, both before and after felting.
I was pretty pleased with how it turned out. I deemed it "giftworthy" anyway. It wasn't perfect. But I think she liked it okay.

And now, the piece that has been hanging off my needles. . .

This picture doesn't really do it justice. It's the yarn. It's SOOOOO gorgeous. It's Baby Mohair Loop. I linked it in an earlier post. I just love it!

Well, Hub's hanging over my shoulder. I better call it a night.

Happy knitting.

Lisa

Very bad...

I am bad. It's been awhile since my last post. Worse, I have no pics as I promised I would and I really have nothing meaningful to post. I have been working, working, working.... No knitting has been done for over a week. Pity me.

Or not.

Happy Knitting.

Checking in.

First, my friend's daughter is holding her own. It will be a while before we know what the future holds for her, but she's stable and making progress.

Not much new to report on the knitting front. I am working on a shawl made with some gorgeous yarn purchased years ago in Taos at Weaving Southwest. If you go to their website and look under "Knitting Yarns" you'll find it. It's the Loop Mohair (Baby Loop) in the Winterplum colorway. What a gorgeous yarn. The shawl is a simple rectangle knitted in garter stitch on a size 13 needle. It's turning out really pretty. I needed a mindless knit and this is perfect. I cast on 50 stitches and away I went. It's fun watching it grow. Will try to get a pic up soon. I'm also experimenting with yarn combinations to see if I can come up with a nice project for my knitting group. There is a variety of skill levels there, but seems to be some interest in a group knit. Maybe a simple lace shawl would be good for this group. I think several gals are ready to progress beyond scarves.

I'm headed back to Taos in October. Anyone else going to the Wool Festival? This will be my first and I am so excited. I'm taking hub and some friends who do not knit, so I'm foregoing the classes this year. I just want to look around and get the lay of the land for next year. We stay at the lovely Dreamcatcher Bed and Breakfast when we go to Taos and it's always a real treat. Hopefully, my shawl will be done and I can get some additional yarn in the same colorway to use for edging or fringe.

I have not mailed my last Secret Pal package, but hope to do so after I return from next week's business trip to Albuquerque. I still need a few things to complete the suprise and will probably wrap that up next weekend.

Fall is right around the corner! Yea!
Happy knitting.

Sorry I haven't blogged this week...

My very good friend of 11 years' only daughter was in a very horrible car wreck yesterday evening. She has had two surgeries, coded twice and had multiple procedures. It now looks as if she has turned a corner and may have a chance at pulling through. She is 17 years old and was planning to begin her Senior year of High School next week. No one should have to experience this with their own child. It is at the same time every parent's worst nightmare and the thing you think can never happen to you. Hug your teenagers. Tell them you love them at least once a day. Remind them to never get in a car without putting on a seatbelt.

Lisa

Had to try this...

Bold the ones you have done.

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink02. Swam with wild dolphins03. Climbed a mountain04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive05. Been inside the Great Pyramid06. Held a tarantula07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone08. Said 'I love you' and meant it09. Hugged a tree10. Bungee jumped11. Visited Paris12. Watched a lightning storm at sea13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise14. Seen the Northern Lights15. Gone to a huge sports game16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables18. Touched an iceberg19. Slept under the stars20. Changed a baby's diaper21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon22. Watched a meteor shower23. Gotten drunk on champagne24. Given more than you can afford to charity25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment27. Had a food fight28. Bet on a winning horse29. Asked out a stranger30. Had a snowball fight31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can32. Held a lamb33. Seen a total eclipse34. Ridden a roller coaster35. Hit a home run36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking37. Adopted an accent for an entire day38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment39. Had two hard drives for your computer40. Visited all 50 states41. Taken care of someone who was drunk42. Had amazing friends43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country44. Watched wild whales45. Stolen a sign46. Backpacked in Europe47. Taken a road-trip48. Gone rock climbing49. Midnight walk on the beach50. Gone sky diving51. Visited Ireland52. Been heartbroken longer then you were actually in love53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them54. Visited Japan55. Milked a cow56. Alphabetized your cds57. Pretended to be a superhero58. Sung karaoke59. Lounged around in bed all day60. Posed nude in front of strangers61. Gone scuba diving62. Kissed in the rain63. Played in the mud64. Played in the rain65. Gone to a drive-in theater66. Visited the Great Wall of China67. Started a business68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken69. Toured ancient sites70. Taken a martial arts class71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight72. Gotten married73. Been in a movie74. Crashed a party75. Gotten divorced76. Gone without food for 5 days77. Made cookies from scratch78. Won first prize in a costume contest79. Ridden a gondola in Venice80. Gotten a tattoo81. Rafted the Snake River82. Been on television news programs as an "expert"83. Got flowers for no reason84. Performed on stage85. Been to Las Vegas86. Recorded music87. Eaten shark88. Had a one-night stand89. Gone to Thailand90. Bought a house91. Been in a combat zone92. Buried one of your parents93. Been on a cruise ship94. Spoken more than one language fluently95. Performed in Rocky Horror.96. Raised children97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour98. Created and named your own constellation of stars99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking103. Had plastic surgery104. Survived an illness that you shouldn't have survived105. Wrote articles for a large publication106. Lost over 100 pounds107. Held someone while they were having a flashback108. Piloted an airplane109. Petted a stingray110. Broken someone's heart111. Helped an animal give birth112. Won money on a T.V. game show113. Broken a bone114. Gone on an African photo safari115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild118. Ridden a horse119. Had major surgery120. Had a snake as a pet121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states124. Visited all 7 continents125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days126. Eaten kangaroo meat127. Eaten sushi128. Had your picture in the newspaper129. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about130. Gone back to school131. Parasailed132. Petted a cockroach133. Eaten fried green tomatoes134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey135. Selected one "important" author who you missed in school, and read136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating137. Skipped all your school reunions138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language139. Been elected to public office140. Written your own computer language141. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care143. Built your own PC from parts144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you145. Had a booth at a street fair146: Dyed your hair147: Been a DJ148: Shaved your head149: Caused a car accident150: Saved someone's life

...And I thought my life was pretty boring...

Here's a few more things I can add to the list: 151. Worked a real cattle drive. 152. Held a bullfrog. 153. Completed a 50 mile bicycle ride. 154. Been a passenger on a private jet. 155. Disected a shark (and a cat) 156. Taken Fencing Lessons. 157. Spent the night in an underwater hotel. 158. Stood on the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor. 159. Rode a shift with a policeman. 160. Shaken hands with a Senator.

Try it yourself. What have you done?

No Knitting News

I haven't picked up a needle since my last post. I have listened to another episode of Cast On by Brenda Dayne. If you haven't listened, check her out. It's good stuff.

Since I have no knitting news, I'll throw in some gratuitous animal shots. Yes, we have lambs. No I don't spin. My kids are in 4H. I watched them get sheared (the lambs - not the kids). Wouldn't know the first thing to do with the fleece. This is "Skipper." He's almost ready for the show next weekend. It will be our first show.














Then there's the horse. I had a pic of him up back in March. Here he is now. Those of you who have horses know that it is next to impossible to get a good picture of one. He really is prettier than he looks here. That is his mom next to him.














Summer is winding down. I'm thinking about knitting. Does that count? My knitting group meets next Monday night, so I need to come up with something... Maybe the sock!!

Happy Knitting
Lisa