Miss Greta Loses One of Nine Lives - A Cautionary Tail/Tale

We came very close to losing Miss Greta this week. Suffice it to say, we learned a lot, but we didn't have fun. What we thought was a problem with hairballs, turned out to be a severe urinary tract infection. We learned that simply because a cat is throwing up, it can be a lot more serious than hairballs. I want to thank my friends on Plurk and Twitter for their very helpful suggestions - particularly, the friend who gently reminded me that cats usually aren't "sick" with hairballs. Fortunately, that suggestion stuck with me and we got her to the vet first thing Friday. Because our Miss Greta is one tough cookie, the vet thought she probably had this infection for some time and it just suddenly brought her down. Through every one's thoughts and prayers and excellent veterinary care, Miss Greta is at the deck door right now cursing at the birds - just two days after taking her to the vet. She's a ways from her usual perky self, but she's back on the path.

On a brighter note, I want to give my Yankee Ingenuity Award to FNB Plastics for developing the "Original Spinning Wheel Cup Holder." One of the down sides for spinning, at least for me, was that I didn't have a place to have my coffee or soda near. I could move the wheel near a table, but then it blocks the door. When I'm at a spinning event, the cup has to go on the floor and then I'd have to stop spinning and reach down and grab it. It just wasn't efficient. Now, the cup holder sits on top of the wheel, at least for the Ashford Joy wheel, and I can drink, many times without stopping the wheel. There's models for many different wheels and more in development. To attach, there's bolts that fit through the open spaces in the wheel, so there is no glue, no drilling into the wheel. The cup holders are made in the USA and are reasonably priced from the manufacturer (mine was $30, with shipping). FBN Plastics can be found at www.fnbplastics.etsy.com



On the Needles: I seemed to have skipped Sock Pair #13 - so I am actually on Pair #17 which is from Trekking Hand Painted. I'll have to get the numbering straightened on Ravelry. (No wonder math is not my strong suit - I can't even count!)




Off the Needles: Since it's been a little over a week since I've blogged, I've finished off Pair #14 - the Bubble Hand Spun, which was photographed last time; Pair #15 - a pair of socks from leftover Regia self-striping (I think) with vanilla heels and toes from Brown Sheep Wildfoote; Pair #16 which is left over hand-dyed sock blank with Wildfoote heels, toes and cuff in a burnt orange.

52 Books in 52 Weeks/Book No. 35: The Piano Teacher by Lynn York. This is not the usual type of book I pick up; however, one of the blurbs said that Ms. York was a cross between Agatha Christie and Flannery O'Connor - two of my favorites, for very different reasons. Other than the fact this was "sort of" a cosy mystery and it was set in the South, I didn't catch the resemblance. An okay beach read, but then I'm not a beach person.

Finally! The Reason I Have Problems With Math

Last time I talked about how 3 = 1 by plying three single strands into one yarn. This week I've taken the one yarn and made it into two socks at the same time. Therefore, 3 = 1 = 2. Anyone that has known me for any length of time knows about my aversion to math and that I have knit forever. Particularly disturbing to anyone that enjoys working with numbers is my argument that it's illogical and my demonstration above and last time only goes to show that it is illogical or it's an explanation as to why I have problems with math. These socks are now finished and are from my hand spun. I have lots of yarn left over, so I'm sure you'll be seeing it in other garments in the coming months. This is Pair #15 in the 52 Pair Plunge.

Off the Needles: Also, off the needles is Pair #14 my Bubble Socks, which was my stealth project from last week.

On the Needles: I'm working on a pair of cropped socks from leftover yarn. This pair will be Pair #15. It just dawned on my that I am more than a quarter done with this challenge.

On the Carder: I haven't mentioned Pokey, the alpaca fleece for a while. I'm finally to the point it's not behaving like linguine noodles and expanding each time I take more out of the bag - I can finally see an end to the process. It's still a ways down the road, but there is an end. I have decided that Pokey should blend fleeces from Abbie, Black Ear and Patches' Boy, some of our local sheep. The finished garment should be worn by someone on the red carpet, so when they're asked, "Who are you wearing?", they can say Pokey, Abbie, Black Ear and Patches' Boy. Yeah, right.

52 Books in 52 Weeks: I have been reading The Piano Teacher and Buffalo for the Broken Heart. If I'd concentrated on one, I might have one finished - but no. So stay tuned.

1 + 1 + 1 = 1

So when does 3 = 1? When you take three single plies and make them into a 3-ply yarn! I spun the three bobbins of very fine singles of hand-painted superwash wool to the left and then spent the past few lunch hours plying them into the yarn on the jumbo bobbin to the right. The yarn on the right is very fine in diameter and hopefully, after handwashing and air drying, it will measure out to fingering or sock weight yarn. This was my Tour de Fleece challenge that I didn't finish in time. I think I may have way more yardage than I need for a pair of socks; but with hand spun yarn, it's not like you can go to the store and get another skein.

When I was running road races, I used to dream about coming in after the race was all over and every one had left. Fortunately, that never happened - until now. I finished up the challenge about a week and a half after the end of the race! I'm looking forward to making this yarn into socks.

On the Needles: Currently, I have a stealth project on the needles. A new toe-up pattern which works up very quickly. Hopefully, I'll have the pattern posted with photos for the next blog. It took some doing, but I am finally down to doing one project at a time. The loophole in that philosophy is that I have one project on the needles, one project on the hook, one project on the spindle and yet another on the quilting machine.

Off the Needles: I have finished the Knit One Below bag, and will photograph it after it's been felted. After my last disaster felting, I can't quite bring myself to put it in the washing machine - quite yet at any rate.

Also, off the needles is Pair No. 13 of the 52 Pair Plunge III - another pair of Waterfall Socks. This pair was made with Tess of Maine Designer Yarn. Love the base yarn, love the color, hate that color came off in my hands. I will have to wash these before wearing them - probably using a Color Catcher sheet or I'll have blue feet! I think the Waterfall Socks (designed by WendyKnits) look much better in this yarn than the Mini-Mochi.

52 Books in 52 Weeks/Book 34: The Dark Horse, by Craig Johnson. This is the latest in the Sheriff Walt Longmire series - another one of my favorites. The characters make this book and the plot's not half bad either. In this one, the Sheriff goes undercover to investigate the murder of the husband of a woman sitting in his jail. This series reminds of a modern-day Lone Ranger, complete with an Indian sidekick. There's great action and while the endings may not be a sappy as the Lone Ranger, they are good, strong resolutions. I got to the end of this one on a Sunday night, knowing full well I had to get up early for work on Monday. I also knew I couldn't sleep until I finished it. So I dragged myself around all Monday, drinking way too much coffee - but it was worth it.

Is It Summer Yet?

Usually in South Dakota we have many more hot days in July than we've had this year. In fact, more days than not, we've bundled up in the morning to take our daily bike ride. There's only been a few days I've been able to wear shorts. Even so, the flowers seem to enjoy the cooler weather and our lily trees (l) and Oriental Lily (r) had extraordinary flowers this year.

Waterfall socks
Originally uploaded by bruggerknits


On the Needles: I enjoyed making WendyKnits' Waterfall Socks so much last week, I started a second pair on Sunday. It's so much fun tonight, Tuesday, I already turned the heels on both socks. This will be Pair #13 in the 52 Pair Plunge III on Ravelry.

Off the Needles: Pair #11 in the 52 Pair Plunge III was my first pair of Waterfall Socks. I made these in Mini Mochi which is probably a nice yarn for everything except socks. It's a loosely spun one-ply yarn. I am very concerned about these socks felting from wear. Of additional concern is that I purchased two balls of the same dye lot and the colors were wound on the balls in opposite directions. Had I known, I could have started one sock from the end of one ball and the second sock from the inside of the other and I would have been fine! I do like identical socks, but these ended up as being slightly different. I do start and end on the same color though!

Pair #12 was another pair of baby socks made out of the Debra Norville sock yarn.

On/Off the Spindle: I've decided that next year I am going to do my level-headed best to avoid challenges and knit-a-longs, particularly on Ravelry. Why? Because I am very disappointed in myself because I didn't finish my goal in Tour de Fleece. I am competitive by nature and I know, it was supposed to be a fun thing . . . Anyway, next year is going to be the year to relax and enjoy it. Someone may need to remind me.

52 Books in 52 Weeks/Book 33: Santa Clawed, by Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie Brown. I always enjoy reading about Christmas in July. I used think it was a heat thing, but it couldn't be that this year, so it must be a fun thing. Also, Mrs. Murphy Mysteries are probably my favorite and this one did not disappoint! This one involved the murders of monks, plus one - very good ending!

Lost & Found

From time to time I get the urge to organize. Usually, it happens at the first of the year. The next most common time is when I have been unable to find something. As I discovered today, those two times can collide into disaster.

I could not find something in my office. It's not material what it is, but it is important. I looked in all the logical places and organized as I went. There was still a glaring hole in the middle of the data range of the documents. In the course of looking for that glaring hole, I moved two boxes of recycled paper, mostly in the form of catalogs and magazines out of my office and eliminated, three rather large piles of "stuff" of the paper variety, mostly advertisements and articles I had cut out, for what reason, I don't know anymore. I also knocked three chessmen behind the file cabinet - probably to remain until we re-carpet or move. Once the piles were eliminated, I noticed a pristine narrow three-ring binder on the file cabinet. I looked inside. It was the glaring hole I'd been looking for, the victim of my organizational efforts from the first of the year.

I'm finding the blank places on my desk and floor a little scary - but I'll get used to them, I hope.

Off the Needles: Nanner Socks, designed by Wendy D. Johnson, in my very own Sheepish Fibers Big Foot in Lemon Drop. I like my socks to hit about mid-shin so if my slacks ride up, folks just get to look at more of my socks! I'm very happy with these. It's a fun pattern and available on Ravelry or WendyKnits website. Incidentally, these are Pair #10 of the 52 Pair Plunge III and yet another pair for Summer of Socks 2009 and the Great Sock Off. I haven't figured up the yardage yet for Limenviolet's Sock Marathon, but I'm well over four miles already and three was my goal, so give math is my least favorite activity, it may not get figured up. (This math stuff cuts into my knitting time!)

On the Needles: I had so much with the Nanner Socks, I started Wendy D. Johnson's Waterfall Socks (which are available at the same two locations - did I mention it's a free download?) I am using the Mini Mochi that I purchased at Stitches West. In fact, I purchased this yarn after I saw WendyKnits pair of Waterfall Socks in Mini Mochi. It was all the rage at Stitches West, but I'm not convinced a single-ply yarn is appropriate for socks, particularly one that is so softly spun. I did use re-enforcing thread in the toes. I will be very surprised if they don't felt while I'm wearing them - but I'll keep you posted.

I also have a pair of children's socks on the needles for a yarn review for Knitting Purls, so I'll show those there first. Incidentally, Knitting Purls is a free publication and you can subscribe by contacting them at info@knittingpurls.com.

On the Spindle/Off the Spindle: I'm still treadling away on the Tour de Fleece roving. I now have two bobbins completed, count 'em two bobbins! I'm not sure I'll get this completed by the end of the tour, but I'll be so far along, I'll finish soon after. I can't wait to start the plying of this to see how it comes out.

52 Books in 52 Weeks/Book 32: A Widow for One Year, by John Irving. I haven't read anything current from John Irving, so I can't say if he is still using the same elements or not. One of the fascinating things about a John Irving novel is his use of many of the same elements, but he integrates them into a totally different story. In his earlier novels, like Garp and Hotel New Hampshire and to some extent, Cider House Rules, he utilizes elements like child death, hotels, prostitution, writers, sexual intercourse in multiples and a child who misinterprets a word or phrase (under tow in Garp; ring bearer in Widow). He weaves these into a story much like a fiber artist, who uses many of the same fibers, but in different colors and textures, into a wonderful story. I rarely "like" his female characters, in that they aren't the kind of people I generally associate, but always "love" his male characters, who are usually just as flawed as his female characters, but much more charming. This is a great book and well worth the time.

Juggling

There are times I feel like I'm juggling lit torches and this was one of those weeks. I don't think I was really any busier than usual, it just seemed like it. As I start the new week, my desk seems a bit more orderly than it usual does at this time of the week, so perhaps the extra scramble during the week was worth it.

On the Needles: Nanner Socks by Wendy D. Johnson (Wendy Knits). I'm just starting so the my yellow socks look like what one of my good friends calls my bikini top! I'm using some of my own yarn - Sheepish Fibers Big Foot in the Lemon Drop Colorway. I'm sure to have some left over, even if I make the socks extra long, as I like them.

Also, on the needles, I've continued with my big black and teal bag which is shown in last week's entry. I hope to have that completed this week. So hopefully, next week at this time, it will be all felted up and ready to use!

Off the needles: I finished the Knotty or Knice Socks which I started last week. The yarn is from Fleece Artist and it's in wonderful pastel shades of green, lavender and blue. These are a little shorter than I usually make, but the pattern was so complex, I really just wanted to be done!

On the Spindle: I'm still working on the Tour de Fleece with the Ember colorway of my superwash roving. Bobbin 1 is completed and I'm well on my way to completing Bobbin 2.

52 Books in 52 Weeks/Book 31: Catnap, by Carole Nelson Douglas. This is the first entry into the Midnight Louie series, one of my favorites. Douglas lands us right into the middle of Temple and Louie's lives, so there could always be a prequel! Midnight Louie and Temple meet at the American Booksellers Association convention in Las Vegas. They encounter a body and find the catnapped Baker & Taylor Scottish-fold cats. There's always a lot of action in the Midnight Louie series and this first one set the pace.

Out in the Garden: I have plenty of weeding to keep up on, but the lilies are coming in. I tend to buy perennials at the end of the season, so sometimes, I'm not really sure what is going to bloom the next summer. The pink and whites ones were a complete, and very pleasant surprise!

Other projects are limping along. I haven't forgotten about the Pokey fleece or the Bug Jar Quilt. The quilt I'm still hoping to finish quilting this month. I'm also still listening to A Widow for One Year, that may be completed this week - hopefully - as long as I'm not juggling again this week!

Technical Difficulties

This week does not have an entry to 52 Books in 52 Weeks due to technical difficulties. I thought I finished Widow for One Year, by John Irving, but as I got down to the final minutes of the audible.com recording, I quickly realized the there were a number of issues that were unresolved. I've read enough John Irving, like just about everything he's written, to know that he just does not leave folks hanging for an eternity. Then I heard it: "End of Part 1." But that's all that was on my iPod! Fortunately, Audible.com, like Amazon.com and eBooks, keeps my library for me. I'd forgotten to download Parts 2 and 3. So stay turned - it's a great book. John Irving can set a scene like nobody else. I can picture everything - it's better than a movie!

So onto my upper midwestern listing of what I've accomplished this week!

Tour de Fleece: In conjunction with the Tour de France, Ravelry has a Tour de Fleece for spinners (the kind with one wheel and a treadle, not two). I joined the Spin Our Socks group and started spinning the Embers fleece. On the bobbin is what I accomplished after Day 1. I think the goal of the group is to spin 3-ply sock yarn, however, I may have to be happy with a 2-ply. We'll see if I have enough fleece for a 3-ply.

Off the Needles: Pair #7 of the 52 Pair Plunge III is another pair of mini-socks. These little socks are great for working out patterns.

On the Needles: For Pair #8 of the 52 Pair Plunge III, as well as the July pair for the Great Sock Off, and my stress-free pair for Summer of Socks, I started the Knaughty & Knice socks for Interweave Fall 2008. It's a fun pattern, but is a little slower going than the patterns that got me to seven pairs in one month-but maybe slowing down a bit is a good thing. I have some more ideas for mini-socks to catch up.

I also started playing around with the Knit One Below method from the book of the same name by Elise Duvekot. It's been a challenge for me to follow the excellent directions provided in the book. When it comes to knitting, I tend to assume I know how it goes. I'm usually quickly humbled, as I was this time. It's a super-easy technique, if you follow the instructions. I'm working on a bag using the technique, in Green Mountain Spinnery two-ply black worsted and Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride in teal. The Lamb's Pride is a second, because it's not colorfast (although my fingers aren't turning teal), so I wanted to use it with something that wouldn't show if it did bleed.

On the Hook: I'm not much of a crocheter, but I do still have a lot of scraps of washable sock yarn. I'm doing this modified granny square in hopes of using some of the scraps. Actually, I'm hoping to use all of them. My sock yarn stash is significantly reduced because of the Sock Yarn Marathon I've been working on since February 1, but I want it reduced more! Hopefully, this will help.

Last of All: I was totally surprised and extremely pleased with the shout-out my Etsy shop, Sheepish Hand Knits, received on the Daily Chum on Friday. I recently started a new line of sock yarn called "Big Foot" and as a result of the Daily Chum piece, I've been busily packing and dyeing up more yarn this weekend. You can see the the piece here:
http://www.limenviolet.com/blog/?p=6731 IdaW, Limenviolet and all the Daily Chum folks - thank you!