Mar 31, 2009

Spinning again

Whew! I'm back from a long dry spell. I've been kind of depressed about how long it's taking me to get over the effects of this surgery thing. It's been a month and I still have days when there is a LOT of pain and inflammation. Days when I just can hardly stand to get up. I hate that.

But then I have good days, when I'm full of energy and creativity and get a lot of everything done. So I guess everything balances out in the end. I've been back to work, but with one less class than usual and only in the afternoons, which really has helped, especially on those bad days. I hope this month I'll have a full schedule again. I hope I can handle it.

But on the good days, I've been spinning a lot. I just finished 8 ounces of brown, and white pink, purple, corriedale/merino/sparkly stuff from Enchanted Knoll Farm. I spun it into worsted weight yarn, and ended up with about 400 yards of pretty yarn. Now I'm halfway through some white alpaca that has been carded with kid mohair locks and curls, and a lot of sparkle. It's very pretty so far, but I don't really care for the way the mohair has not been blended into the alpaca. It's more or less in lumps and clumps scattered through the batts. I had envisioned some lovely socks from this fiber, but I don't know if that will happen. There are so many ends sticking out of the yarn...not my idea of a good sturdy sock yarn. I haven't decided if I should ply it with itself or ply it with some white alpaca that I got from my sister, Wooly Works. I have one spindle loaded with about 1.5 ounces, so it might be time to spin up a little white alpaca and do some experimenting.

Believe it or not, my spinning stash is reducing somewhat! Spinning is great therapy for the blues, especially if you have fun colors and different fibers to play with.

A little time has passed since I started this post, and I've been spinning the white alpaca that I was talking about a little earlier. I forgot what a pleasure it is to spin!

Since this seems to be an ongoing post, I'll be back with pictures this afternoon.

Mar 20, 2009

with ruffle...


Brown acrylic blend, drawstring waist, size small - medium.

Mar 16, 2009

What I've been doing...


These are fingerless mittens made from handspun superwash merino and a few multicolored seed beads. Fun!

This is one of the crocheted skirts I made while I was waiting for the pain to subside. Drawstring waist, worsted weight yarn, size medium. I like it! I've already worn it to work, and it's nice, but it's still a little too hot here for me to wear it again till fall.


These are some shots of the crocheted lace I made from the teal romney. I don't know if you can see the crystal beads in the photos, but in the sun they catch the light and sparkle like raindrops.

Here's Celeste, patiently waiting for me to get out of bed.

Mar 9, 2009

Back from the dead...

Whew! Today's the first day that I've felt anything like myself since before I had surgery. I'm still not 100%, and have some issues, but am MUCH better (aside from having to sit on absorbent padding :o( instead of directly on the chair seat.) While I was out of sorts, I crocheted and slept, so I don't have much news, other than I'm about 10 pounds lighter from a loss of both water weight and body weight. Now that I'm back on my feet, I have a lot of work ahead of me.

As you may know, neither dogs nor men are particularly good at housework. Celeste did her best to keep me safe and under observation. When I cried, she cried. When I slept, she slept - or at least she was on the bed with me. When I thought about eating but didn't (being in abject fear of the pain experienced in the bathroom), she dutifully abandoned her own dogfood to help me dispose of unwanted bread and pasta. Now my bed smells strongly of dog butt and dog feet, but I know for sure that Celeste is a trustworthy and dear family member...no spoiled princess act aside from being reluctant to give up her spot on the bed. She does not, however, sweep the floor or do laundry.

O is the most devoted husbands and caring man that I could ever hope for. I left a long and abusive marriage several years ago, determined to never be treated like dirt under any man's shoe again. Life with O can be frustrating...he is a man who does most things in his own time...however, he has waited on me hand and foot and never made me feel badly about it. I hope I can be the same for O when he needs me as badly as I needed him these past two weeks. However...he cannot be depended upon to do laundry, wash dishes, or clean up after himself in any way. So, I have a dirty apartment to muck out and a kitchen to clean up. I've been chipping away at the pile of laundry everyday, so that is almost caught up, except for some ironing and folding to do.

And, maybe if I do a good job of cleaning, I'll find that damned elusive USB cable for the camera...

Mar 5, 2009

Celeste here again

Hi people. The Mom can't write for a few days again. She went to the vet's (just like I did once!) and had a droid operated. I can't write for too long, either, becauz I hafta follow her around the partment to make sure she's okay. She's sittin in the bathroom right now in a orange tub and kinda cryin so I can type a little. I can see her right now, so it's ok. But when she goes back to bed or into the kitchen I hafta go, ok?

But guess what - she finally finished the romney shawl with the sparklies in it. She showed it to me last night. She sez it has to be blocked, but I think she'll do that later. She started a new project while she was at the vet's - a skirt - but she can't try it on yet.

She was gone a long time! 5 days! I hadta take care of the partment and The Dad went to work and to see the Mom at the vet's. Wow, I'm glad I didn't hafta stay there that long when I was operated. I missed The Mom while she was gone, but I hate the vet's, so I'm glad I didn't hafta go, too. I don't want no droids. I'm glad she's back now becauz I get to spend the WHOLE DAY with her on the bed. She's not so muh fun as usual, but I know she'll get better quick.

Oops, I hafta go watch and make sure The Mom gets to the bed ok. Then I hafta get on the bed and watch her. Bye.