Cast your face to the wind

Someone loves to put his face into the wind. Don't you just wonder what goes through an animals mind???? Iggy loves facing the wind and barely opening his eyes.
I am working on knitting the yarn I spun with these huge sequin flowers. After ripping it three times, I think I finally have it figured out. I am alternating some brown sheep in between so the sequin flowers (up to 2"s) don't get too bunchy. My feeling on this is the hat will look like the old sequin hats, or maybe an Ester Williams swim cap???? It's anyone's guess. Have a great weekend.

The Culprit

This morning for whatever reason I woke up with a renewed interest in my Barbie doll. I remembered she had a knitting outfit with a bowl of yarn and a book as accessories. After our morning walk I brought out my coveted blue Barbie wardrobe, the one that after 50 years the handle snapped off, leaving a sharp piece of plastic to scratch the hell out of you. Inside is a treasure of Barbie outfits, the Skater, the Airline Stewardess, the seductress, the teacher and so much more. For all the bad rap Barbie got she really did let little girls know they could be more than a Mom.....I never remember looking at her and feeling negative about me...oh yes I did, I wanted her Platnum Blonde Bubble hair.....this is not my first Barbie but it was the one that I loved most. I had the first one that came in a black and white striped bathing suit, with a blond pony tail that my sister took out and restyled and it never looked good again. She had hoop earring, which I noticed this Barbie is missing her one pearl earring and one shoe and the knitting bowl, but not the "How to Knit" book. I wonder how many little girls showed an interest in knitting, after they got Knitting Barbie outfit. I also have some handmade outfits from a friend of mines mom, My mom actually knit my Barbie a sweater with teeny needles and I have that too, the moths or silverfish did a little buffet on all my wool outfits, so the sweater you see is actually hole ridden and putting those pointy fingered hands into a holey sweater was a real treat. So today Barbie sis visiting the shop.....!!

Thank you Veterans, for my Freedom

Not just today but everyday, please remember to Thank a Veteran for your freedom. In some Countries, I would not be able to own my own business as a woman. I would not be able to vote, choose my clothing, speak in public. As a woman i would be lower than snake belly. I know how lucky I am, and it has not come without a cost. People have given their lives so I can do these things. I know a Thank you is a small token, but I do remember you, and will always respect you for what you have given me. No matter why, or when, you have left your family's to protect mine. Right or Wrong, you have gone at your Countries request, to do something you will never forget. It will live on in your mind forever. It was not just a two year stint it was a lifetime. You have come back with scars that may or may not be visible. I thank you for your hardship, because of you I can write this without fear, because of you I can walk the streets alone, without a male companion, without a black robe covering my whole body. Thank you every day not just today, everyday!!!! Remember to hug a Veteran and say a prayer for our Soldiers all over the World fighting to keep us safe.
Knit a hat for the Veterans Christmas Party in December. I am collecting them here at the shop!!!!

New Neighbors

A new family has taken residence at the corner. I think there are four kids and a mom and dad. They are relatively quiet especially when dad is home. When I sit outside I can look right into their home and spy on them. Oh oh there is a fight going on over there, and mom just left. Dad is looking around like "what was that all about?" no clue. I get to watch the babies grow....how fun. I think their name is the Sputzy's. That is what I will call them. The weather sure is awesome, no complaints other than the wind, but if it weren't a tad windy it would be down right HOT!!!! I am not knitting tonight I am going to watch the finale of American Idol....what else.

First Sunday closed

Today is my first Sunday closed....I woke up at 6:ish and we went for a walk. I am savoring my first cup of coffee and deciding what course I am going to take today. Now I never plan, but I do list things that I need to do. Cleaning house is one of them and finish unpacking and taking my mom out for a belated Mother's day.
My baby (Iggy) is acting like a real good puppy. I think that leaving him with someone else for a few days has changed him. One, he no longer wants to go potty on his spot on the deck, he wants to take a walk and do his duty. I need the walk too. He now sleeps with me out of his cage...and he stays in bed all night. His pen is gone from the shop and he walks around like he owns it and for the most part leaves the yarn alone, unless of course he gets bored. He sleeps in his bed in the shop and when people come in he goes to meet them. He will run out the door if given the chance but after all he is a puppy and boys will be boys. Why is it when you try to teach a child/dog something they totally ignore you. I do remember someone telling me you can try to teach your dog something and all of a sudden they reach a certain age and it all clicks. I think my baby has reached that age!!! It is getting easier to be his mom and I am not constantly saying NO No ....but it isn't over yet I'm sure....

I'm back!!!

Hello Hello Hello....I had the best time and can't wait to go back. I may have to drag some new bodies along to share the fun. I met a bunch of new women and Spinning enthusiasts. Now to explain the photo above...upon leaving YS..I saw a buffallo ranch and screamed at Martha who was driving...STOP, they may sell fiber from Kansas buffallo....Martha droned with a little Kansas accent, "they won't have fiber, only meat" me....you never know they may have insight into a cash crop...let's check. So out saunters this tall lanky guy, usual tractor hat on and I blurt with excitement..."Do you have any wool from the buffallo, you know fiber, hair????? he puts his long fingers up to his chin and gives it a little rub.."hhhmmm seems the dogs had some the other day, hold on....here" he holds out this 1 foot piece of matted buffallo fur" me...Oh thanks that is good, I can work with this? So he places it in a bag for me, I did notice he was wearing heavy leather gloves...and I sealed the bag. Off we went and while unloading the car I found the buffallo toupee and "What the heck is this in the bag?? it had a cigarette butt with it.....nice!!! So I am going to make something beautiful from my Kansas Buffallo minus the butt!!!!
I'm sure he went in to his family at dinner (if he waited that long) and said (Some city nuts stopped by today.....wanted some wool.....that's when the whole family started rolling on the floor laughing)

Yarn School

I am ready to go.....well kind of.... there are those last minute must pack things. I hate packing, I am a light packer, I figure if I don't have it I don't have it??? The weather is the main problem, will it be chilly or hot ....hopefully on the chilly side, and not HOT. I know there is rain in the forecast, but my headaches can tell me if it's going to rain better than the new improved Doppler radar. Iggy will be visiting a friend for the 6 days. The shop will be open, and Kim is having a sale on Mother's Day. I tried to finish my Alice in Wonderland sweater and only had 9 inches left....I choked, I whined, I denied starting it.....the want is there but the do is not....Lois is finishing it for me....so I hope to wear it tomorrow...if it fits...LOL. Oh that's not really funny. So I will see you all in a week....Come see what I learned.
See that bench out in front on that photo....well it is no longer there. I was sitting on it and jiggling and it broke....it was funny because it happened in slow motion. I did look and it was all rotten....I hope.

American Icon

It's Friday night and the phone rings, there is an urgency in the ring. I take the phone in my hand and check the ID, it is a Madison area code. I know my friend is at the Gallery night in Madison and figure he must have seen something he needs to share. As I answer the phone, there is excited breathing, gasping you could say and then he hollars, ROBERT REDFORD IS IN MADISON....whhaaatt? I answer back, sure he is are you eatting too many funnel cakes? No he is google him, so I pull my lap top which is still warm from my exciting game of Mai Jong....and he is in Madison, for the Sundance Theatre, and to possibly donate money to the Arts at Madison. I loved Robert Redford in his old movies...especially Out of Africa, I could watch the scene where he washes Meryl Streeps hair 1000 times. Now back to my game....

Springing up!!!

I got the bug yesterday and finally got rid of all of the dry leaves and garbage in front of the shop. I planted geraniums and impatiens. i will be putting the tables out today and I am working on the chairs, I am going to paint them, (I have all of the stuff anyway) Today I am also putting up the Spring/Summer flowers inside the shop. I will take some photos if the sun or some sort of light ever comes out. Mother's Day we are having an Art show here at the village, it is a juried show this year, not Tupperware and Avon....sorry. Yarn school is coming up fast, only 8 days from now, and my worries of my baby are starting to compound. I want to make sure he is well taken care of, one of the drawbacks of having a fur kid. My brother and SIL would probably take him, but their two dogs, (Shipperkes) hate him, and I mean hate him, he wants to play they want to sleep. So I have another option and I am steering that way, problem is she will probably take him on 5 mile walks 4 times a day and then I can't live up to that expectation...LOL!!! AAAhhhhh I have my wheel packed, but nothing else, like clothes??? We are taking the train so it will be a great trip..hopefully the Swine flu will get contained, sure wish I could get my hands on some Tamaflu!!!!

Charlies Angels????

I think you may have heard me talk about the 60th, 60's party we were invited to. You may also know I am a fan of the 60's and have a few pieces of clothing in case of emergency. So I had to go pick up my mom and SIL for the party and brought some extra props for them. I think my mom had a great time....she is the long haired brunette. We had a blast, well at least I did!!!

Winter/ Summer....Wummer???

Do we get a Spring???? We are getting the rain? But how come we go from Winter to Hot? I could almost turn on the air. This is Wisconsin, we need a break from the bills. But then if we get a break from the bills they raise them so, are we really ahead. Here I sit, in jammies and sweating, but hark, I think I feel a cooler breeze....I best go get my boots out.....Ok, now that I have my rant. I have party to go to today, it is a Hippy Dippy party so I hunted down all of my gear, me dear SIL insists, i don't have to look far...which is true, but I have some real fun stuff. I have put on a few pounds since last wearing it, so it may require the old pregnancy trick of a rubber band around the button on the jeans???? If I can even squeeze my arse in them....they look big??? So then comes the mirror comparison???? hhhhmmmmmm It will be a close call. Or a tight fit.....LOL

Dying Drame

So on my day off, I decided to do some dying....the studio is cold so, I figured, I can do this in my kitchen if I use all of my dyepots, no big deal. So I carry up in one trip the colors I want to use, that have previously been figured out...the kettle, spoon and a huge ball of fiber. I presoak the 50/50 silk merino and start playing. Blotching is more like it....I was not happy one bit with the colors, the techique, nothing actually. Last night in my infinite wisdom realized what I was doing wrong....something so simple I was using dye for a large amount of wool and I am doing more of a wash, so overkill. This morning I have done what I wanted to achieve. I have no photos because it is still in the pot simmering. But I do have some photos of the deer that ran across the road as I was driving. They are through the windshield in the rain.

Road Hog, er I mean dog!!!

So I ran into a shop and came out to dear sweet little Houdini driving the car. When I left he was secure in his harness and seatbelt, sitting sweetly in his booster seat. Now I remember taking some photos of the puppies in his litter and one in particular was trying to get out of the cage, I lovingly nick named the puppy Houdini.....I think I adopted Houdini!!!! He is pretty good at getting out of his carseat. I never leave him too long and for good reason....can't you just hear Iggy saying "Look mom, I'm driving!!!"

Silence of the Lambs

I bit the head off of my chocolate lamb, that was an Easter present....what is it with me, I can't help it....I tried not to bite into it but NNNOooooooooo....off with the head.....Hannabal has nothing on me Claireece.....

Never thought I would say this!!

I want Spring!!! I who loves the cool weather am looking forward to Green, and I don't mean recycled bags. Green grass, flowers popping their little heads out of the cold brown ground. Green trees with leaves and birds singing and I want Spring!!!! Even Iggy wants green, he pulled this flower out of an arrangement on the deck...special, but my boy brought me a flower!!! I don't want to look at my Winter coats anymore, as a matter of fact I am not going to where a Winter coat anymore, I am protesting Winter coats. Not that I need one, someone asked why I never wear what I make....Honey I am too hot to wear a sweater!!! At this stage of the game it's layers...Note to self....I hate the heat of Summer!!!! Happy Easter

Shakin me up

So it's late and I am sitting here just chilling. Iggy starts barking and wants out and when I open the door he is barking like a maniac. I hear this dull thumping and it's coming from below my deck....I think. My heart is pounding because it sounds like someone hitting something a dull thumping. I can hear it and am looking where Iggy is looking, but it is dark and it keeps pounding...and so does my heart, then I get a glimpse of something swinging in the woods.....I am standing in my nightgown, thinking do I run back into the house and call 911 or try to see what it is....I strain my eyes and here is a kid 10 pm hitting a punching / kick bag. It is echoing off of our homes....I came in the house and am really shook up. I am glad it was nothing, and I am glad Iggy was so agressive and defensive...good boy!!!! Now if only my heart will stop pounding.....

Whew!!!!

Ok, so the bank did not approve the $1.00 ebay bill??? Meanwhile I had transfered monies like I was some kind of financial wizard and doing all sorts of money transactions. So for now it is all resolved, but for your own good, get online banking so you can keep an eye on what is going on. I got alot of new yarn in and have been busy cramming it into every nook and cranny of the shop. So my play time has been limited. I am still working on the second fish mitten and have this awesome idea for a vest that Kim wrote the pattern for, I did the gauge and now am waiting for the yarn to come in. Today Iggy and I are doing a dump run, I swear for one person, I have so much garbage!!!! Is it just me or is everyone else in a Spring cleaning mood. I have been digging into my closet that is packed with clothes, that I don't wear??? I saw a Good Will truck behind me and wanted to launch some black bags over the porch and get rid of them. I really do have to unload lots of stuff!!!! Hey have a Happy Easter, it sure came up quick and yes I will be closed!!!! LOL

Money Monday

Money Monday is my day off, and it seems all the shopping has to be done on those days, hence the name. I went on a road trip to "The Fold" in Marengo, Ill. Toni and Nan were wonderful hosts and I bought the most beautiful drop spindle from Gabe Casabillo, I think and some cashmere, silk blend fiber (not my color) but it was the ONLY one so I had to scarf it up!!! We did some yarn shop hunting and the shop gave us the wrong directions, so we ended up coming back to Wisconsin via some side trips. I picked Iggy up from daycare and he got a bath and is all fluffy and nice now, he always smells like bleach when he comes home and I think he wrestles with the pee mop when they clean up messes....I was cleaning the bathtub with some kind of bleach smelling crap and he was all excited like....hey I'm at daycare???? dork!!!

I'm a little nervous???

I was checking on my onine banking statement, something I do regularly...after someone took my account once before quite a few years ago. I have an ebay bill for $1.00....what can you buy for $1.00 and I didn't buy anything not to mention ebay doesn't bill you paypal does. So I had to transfer all my money...the whole...$4.55 to another account so while I am trying to sleep soundly some jerk from Nigeria, is hacking away at my hard earned money. I will contact the bank tomorrow, because we victims have nothing else to do, but make phone calls and sign affidavits and wonder if they ever catch these useless turds!!! So if you ever see those little charges, like .33 to $3.00 be very careful, they send out all these feelers, to unsuspecting victims and if they make a connection, suck your money with all sorts of charges till your account is dry. Isn't that a great way to make a living??? And all while you are sleeping. Last time I did get my money back but you have to do all this fancy dancing, which is only fair to the bank and they gave me back my money. So now I am going to try to go to sleep, and wonder where someone else is spending my money, first it was San Jose, next it will probably be Germany and so on and so forth across the World. Sleep well my child....

Getting Bigger

I haven't noticed but my baby is getting bigger. I have adjusted his food so his "gas" problem isn't as bad as it was, it isn't gone but no where near as bad. LOL..
I am working on the fish mittens the second one, yes I did say the second one....I want to finish it because I have a ton of new Sport weight yarn coming in for Fair Isle knitting and want to do something with that. I think a hat is in the making. The weather is causing everyone to feel sluggish and very dreary, so we need some color to brighten things up. I am getting a good response to the PassPort event. I should be getting the new round table today, well new to me...no more corners spots!!! Have a good day