They are giving away GOATS!

Do you know about this? http://www.fiberfarm.com/2009/09/a-mighty-big-giveaway

If I had a few more acres I think I would be very interested in it. I've alerted my sister. She has a goat ranch ... Boer goats, tho, not for spinning. I've been telling her to get some Angora's and keep them for me. (fingers crossed behind my back)

Quite a few years back my friend and I went to New Buffalo, MI and visited a fiber farm. She had about 100 head of angora goats and several llamas. It was an amazing afternoon. We tramped through the fields with all these little cuties following us around. My neck was even snuffled by a llama who seemed to love my perfume. I came home with bags and bags of yummy fiber to spin and a new appreciation for the fiber on the hoof.

Mohair, in my opinion is the most wonderful to dye. It loves dye. It's vibrant, bright and shiny. I have a couple of pounds of it being processed by Wooly Knob at the moment and can't wait to see what the super soft roving will turn into.

The old and the new

Let's talk about washing machines for a minute.

My last (and first) washer was a Maytag from 1981. I know this because it was a wedding gift from my grandparents. Never had a service call. Never gave me problems.

My latest washer is 1/2 of a Whirlpool Duet team. It's pretty. It's large. It's 2 1/2 years old. It's broken. When I called the repair guy he called it and "older model". I almost had a comeapart. Good Golly! Old?? Seriously?? It was almost $1000 for crying out loud. It should outlive ME! So, after waiting a week for the part (a computer part, of course) it's getting fixed today to the tune of almost $350. We will fix it once. After that my husband vows that Whirlpool might get it back. He mumbled something about through their front window or something. (Don't call me if something happens at whirlpool. It's the joke of a frustrated person. It will never actually happen)

I will share with you some enlightening things that Byron, my repair guy told me. If your bottle of HE soap says that you will get X number of washes from that bottle, you should actually get X times 5. Yes. 5. He said that in the new, efficient front loaders (I'm sure the same is true for others as well) for a large load all you need is 1/2 Tablespoon of soap. Craziness. He said that he practices what he preaches and that his dirty clothes become clean. But, the bottle says X! I cry. He says, They are selling soap. Ahhhh. Still craziness, but I'm doing it.

He also said that while the instruction manual will tell you to clean your washer with bleach, you should really use white vinegar. I can do that.

Shout out to Bob's Repair in South Bend, IN. They are awesome. They really take the time to explain every little thing.

I'm going to do as many loads of laundry as I can in the next 30 - 90 days. After that the warranty is up on the repairs and I want to make sure that it is going to stay fixed!

If you want me, I'll be in the basement.

Still Waiting for Summer!

Well, the weather today is pure crap. Tomorrow doesn't look much better. We're used to, here in the mid-west, a nice Spring that usually a little prematurely turns into a great summer. I'll bet I can't count on one hand the number of really nice days we've had. And it's the middle of June for crying out loud.

I love warm. I love to be warm. Right now I'm cold. I'm getting cranky.

My father n law sent me this lovely picture. It's his blooming cactus. Apparently it's bloomed twice this year already. I had one for awhile but they don't last long in Indiana (he's in Florida) We would set the alarm to get up in the middle of the night to watch it open. The bloom would be dead by noon the following morning so you had to see it while you could.

Knit wise I seem to have startitis. I started Pioneer from www.knitty.com 's Spring edition. We're doing a Knit A Long (KAL) for this project with the LYS (local yarn shop). I like it so far but I'm not really seeing where it's going. It's worked top down in one piece.

That's all for now ... I'm going to go sit on the porch and wait for warm.

Been awhile ...

Well, it's been awhile. Nothing much to talk about really, but I need to make this more of a habit.

The grandbaby is getting closer. The daughter is looking adorable in all of her pregnantness. We've had one shower with another one on Saturday. Baby things have changed quite a bit in 26 years! And, my lord, the rules. Makes you wonder how you ever made it into the world all those years ago without them. Craziness.

Knitting wise, I'm trying to tie up loose ends so I can start some new things. I want to knit baby things but we don't know what it is so that will wait. I'm making a couple of summer sweaters and teaching a couple of classes.

I need to get on that spinning wheel and dwindle down some of my fiber so I can buy some more at the Allegan, MI fiber festival in August. I did just score some incredible Alpaca from a local farm (ranch?) It's the softest thing I've felt. I'm not sure if I want to try to process it myself or send it off to be made into roving. I'm thinking roving.

Well, more later. Right now I need to get some work done.

Knit On.

So we were watching the news last night and Mark kept yelling at the TV. I think we'll have to have a news timeout until this whole ship hostage thing is worked out. He was really on edge!

Knit wise, I'm kind of stalled out. I have my frankenknits to finish but I'm not feeling any love for them. It's an 80s mohair sweater that I've frogged and made into a purse and zipper pouch. I love to make the purses and totes but I'm really much more of a Coach girl. I'm at the ribbing on my Tang sweater. It's going to be great. Love the red. Just needs sleeves and it will be done in time to put it away and wait for fall. Sigh.

Easter is this weekend. Mom & Dad usually have dinner at their house but this year they are in Alabama with friends for Spring Break. Lacie has stepped up and is having it at her house because she "has more toys". Can't argue with that. Who doesn't enjoy a good cow race or game of pool? We'll have the usual. Ham, Polish sausage, yams, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, jello stuff, chocolate trifle and a lamb cake. I can feel the food comma already.

Tomorrow is a day in Chicago. We're going to PFChangs for lunch and then to the Oriental Theater to see Rent. A good time will be had by all I'm sure.

Until later, carry on.

Losing Sleep

I couldn't sleep last night. My brain was too busy thinking for sleep. Strangely, the thing that I kept coming back to was my ever growing pile of WIPs (Works in Progress). Then I started wondering why I have so many.

Right now on the needles are 3 pairs of socks, the everlasting gobstopper Mermaid jacket, a pullover sweater, an entrelac wrap, a mobieus wrap, a lace stitch scarf, a baby hat and booties. I'm reasonably sure that might be more.

So why are there so many? I've always been on the A.D.D. side as a knitter. It's not that I can't focus, I just want to do too many things all at once. It's like a kid in a candy store. Too many pretty things to choose just one.

Also, there is the aspect of different projects for different moods. The mindless project, the pick up and go project, the project for needing a little challenge. Something for every whim. I've got it.

At any rate, I don't see me slowing down on the casting on. I hope I come to terms with this soon ... I really need my sleep.

25 Random Things

25 random things about me.

1. I'm not fond of clowns. My nephew said it best when he was about 4. You just don't know who's in there.

2. I was a Lancome makeup artist in the 80's. Now that was a fun time for makeup!

3. I've been knitting for over 40 years. My Barbie's had the best clothes.

4. I love Camaro's. My first car was a Deep Carmine (red) 1978 with white interior. Dad wouldn't let me get Ttops on that one. Then I had a black 1987 and now I have a red 2000. Zoom Zoom.

5. I got my braces off 2 days before the Senior Prom.

6. I was on academic probation my first year at I.U. While I'm not proud of that, it's a fact. I'd found parties you see.

7. I look a lot like my mom.

8. I'm not at all comfortable on bridges or at edges. I love heights, but not edges.

9. I hate camping.

10. I was the President of the Candy Stripers at Memorial Hospital. See what happens when you miss a meeting?

11. I hated history as a kid. Now I can't get enough of it.

12. I can spin my own yarn.

13. As a child I had an invisible friend named Linda. She had a blue dress that she wore when we went places. Yeah, I know.

14. I don't cook.

15. I'm expecting my first grandweeble in August.

16. I don't have any eyebrows. Thank you very much chemo.

17. I've survived breast cancer 4 times. Thank you very much chemo.

18. I have pyrex tubes as tear duct drains and if I wanted to (I don't) I could blow smoke out of my eyes. Nice party trick.

19. I love beer. Good, rich tasting, darker beer.

20. I don't mind airport security. There is a cool trip on the other end so I'll endure it.

21. I make my bed every single day. First thing, as soon as my feet hit the floor. Can't see the kitchen counters for all the crap that's on them, but my bed is made!

22. I'm lazy. I hate that about me. I could use my time so much better.

23. I wish I rode a Harley. I think they're cool and they sound amazing.

24. I have a purse problem.

25. I've been married nearly 28 years to a fabulous guy and have a wonderful daughter and son~n~law.

Life Is Good

Let's try this again

OK, let's try this again. I really like the idea of blogging and am inspired by others that I read so I'm going to do my best this time. I was frustrated with the Word Press one that I started a year ago. I didn't find it very easy to use. I'm a knitter and not all that great with the computerie things.

I'm getting ready to teach a class at Red Purl in Niles, MI and am looking forward to it. The first one is on Monday, the 16th.

I have plenty of things on the needles right now. A couple of pairs of socks, a sweater, the never ending entrelac wrap and the equally never ending Mermaid. Spring isn't even here yet and I'm already seeing my weekends filling up with things to do.

I'm going to keep this one short so I can go and play with my options. Hopefully, it won't be another year before I post again!

Knit on!