Yarn Porn

I just have to share some of my yarn porn. I can now have yarn porn, because I have a camera that will take the kind of pictures that I've seen others taking. These are some shots of the yarn I picked up at SAFF.


My beautiful, yummy, pettable angora, in 'creme', as it says on the tag. Oh, my heavens, but this is yummy. Yummy enough to make me want to buy bunnies, and make my own.


Some laceweight mohair I picked up at the place I later got my walnut swift. It's beautiful and cranberry and soft and just yum.


Three beautiful skeins of alpaca, lovingly offered to me by Magnum, Blitz and Hershey the alpaca.


Two skeins of bulky alpaca, the first alpaca I picked up during the trip. These came from Willy and Rose.


This is some absolutely delicious mohair/wool/silk blend I picked up. This is the yarn that matches my hair, and is destined to become a sweater.




My swtach of said yarn, with some ribbing, some seed, and at the top, the stitch pattern of the sweater I've chosen to make. Isn't the yarn just luscious?




Two more hanks of simply yummy wool/mohair/silk blend, in a deep foresty green and a not-annoying pink, destined to become a shawl of some sort, I think. I haven't decided yet, but between them I have like 750 yards.


A grey-green mohair/wool blend from Tintagel Farms, and a burgundy/brown/purple mohail/wool boucle from Persimmon Tree Farm. Also destined to become a shawl of some sort or another.

Oh. Yay.

What kind of yarn are you?

You are Dishcloth Cotton.You are a very hard worker, most at home when you're at home. You are thrifty and seemingly born to clean. You are considered to be a Plain Jane, but you are too practical to notice.
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Fair warning, this post will be highly picture intensive. I took just over 800 pictures on our trip, between the drive up the Blue Ridge, SAFF itself, and pictures around the 'rustic' and 'cozy' house we rented, as well as the trip to the Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Gardens. So many pictures that I need to burn them to CDs to send them to people that want them. Which is just insanity.

So without further ado, some of my favorite pictures:


Or .. not. (*$*#(*%@#(* Blogger.

Three Bags Full

I'm back from the whirlwind that was my weekend at SAFF. I will have to post a more in-depth review later, probably tomorrow, when I've had more cold medicine in me or something, but for now, I wanted to post, say hello, and let everyone know what they missed!

To let ya'll know just how much fun was had, I took something like 850 pictures. That's how many I used up on the two memory cards while we were gone, starting on the trip up and ending when we went to the zoo on Monday. I'll have to take some time to go through them all. I'm sure a large protion of said pictures will be not keepers, but I know for certain that some will be good. There's a lot of scenery shots, some from the fiber fair, and a bunch from the zoo. Some of the animals were much more cooperative this time.

SAFF was wonderful. Cold and rainy on Friday, though that was alright because we spent all our time in the fair, and then at dinner. Saturday it cleared up, and we spent a few hours perusing the vendors. Afterwards we drove up the Blue Ridge Parkway as far as Mount Mitchel .. which was covered in a hoar frost and had a 19-dregree wind-chill factor. Sunda .. my birthday .. was spent in workshops for all of us, with a little shopping in between, then dinner at a perfectly wonderful place in Asheville, then back to the cabin for s'mores, and Monday we headed to the zoo, and spent the evening at Jason's parent's house.

The house that was rented was ... well, quaint and rustic and cozy. And had me in literal tears once I got there and realized just how far out in nowhere we were. I was fine once Jason and Larissa got there safely .. I talked them in. But it was still not our best home-away-from-home. Not by a longshot.

I'm getting tired .. cold medicine is kicking in. I'll talk about my yarn haul, and other stuff too, tomorrow. When I'm rested .. and well medicated.

So .. yeah. Menstrual and all, I stayed home today, though I don't think my boss has coverage for the store I was going to cover .. and I feel awful about it, but goddammit, I can't work when it feels like my uterus is being twisted repeatedly by Hulk Hogan. I'm fine by about 6pm, or if I'm sitting down, but my job has to be done in the mornings, and isn't a sit-down thing. So .. she will have to deal without me, cos I just can't make it out to Rivergate and handle my own store .. and I hate it, but I'm female and not past menopause and she'll just have to understand. That'll teach me to agree to cover another person's full vacation right before taking my own.

But I promised to tell you about the birthday gift Jason gave me. He's always been one that can't stand to wait .. though I have to admit, I get that way too, when it's a good one. But this is one helluva birthday present, and I just have to brag a little.

He got be a Nikon D50 SLR digital camera, a good lens to go with it, a UV filter for the lens, a camera bag, and pre-paid for lessons for me to learn how to use said camera. I'd take a picture of it, but it's kinda hard to take a picture of a camera ... but here's the website for the particular camera I have. It is cool as anything, and as much of a shutterbug as I am, it's going to be a great camera for me to play with.

For just an example of the pictures I can take with this camera, here's a shot I took of Isis.




So for those counting, I have gotten a cool as shit phone/pda, and a mega-cool digital camera within two months. Good god, what am I going to get for christmas???

In other, -really- exciting news, the Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair is ... *duhnduhnduhhhhn* TOMORROW!!!! Wahoo!! In 24 hours, barring catastrophes or anything else, Brandon and I will be on our way up to Lake Lure, where we have a house rented until Monday. Jason and Larissa will be coming up that evening, but since we have to figure out how to start a fire in the wood-stove, and have to find the place on top of that, we figured we'd go up there as early as possible.

I'm bringing some knitting, of course, though I only have the burp cloth on the needles right now. But how cool will it be, sitting in the living room together, all .. minus Jason probably .. with our knitting, just gabbing away all the time while it's a frigid 20-some-degrees outside? Oohing and ahhing over the things we saw that day while driving through the mountains, or at the Fiber Fair itself. And celebrating my birthday while we're there. It's going to be so utterly perfect, I can't even begin to explain.

We went today to the Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden, and I took a -ton-of pictures, and even a couple of videos - videos of course of the lion, for B. Sadly, my batteries wore out completely, so I ran out of picture time. But we had a blast .. and I even got pictures of us this time.

There was also knitting to be had. I got started on my first Mason-Dixon project .. a burp-cloth for my friend DeEstle who just recently had a baby girl. I got pretty far too, considering I only knit on the way there, and walking a little ways through the botanical garden because once I hit the zoo, I was too busy taking pictures.

Sorry for the poor pictures of the knitting. My room is so awfully dark it's hard to get good shots at night.





And now, the zoo pictures. . . .






































More can be found here.

Funny Friday 13th Sky

Heading out to work today I say the strangest clouds, all swirly and eddying and wierd. Being that it's Friday the 13th, I should have expected as much. Though I had to run back home to get my real camera and couldn't use the phone - which was dead *duhnduhnduuuhhhnnnn* - I was able to get a couple of okay shots and since I'm now waiting on my phone to charge, I figured I'd post a couple.

Zoooooooo!

Just a small selection of the pictures off my digital camera. I'm still waiting to get the pictures back from the throwaway camera I had to buy just to be able to take pictures of everything .. I'm not even sure how they'll come out. But we're gonna try, and if they don't, we know better. We're going back to either the NC Zoo in Ashboro NC or to the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia SC this Sunday, so I'll have lots more pictures soon.

*bounce*squeal*glee!*

Okay, I know I owe pictures., I'm working on that. I still have to get through zoo pictures, for lady's sake, and we're planning another trip already! Yikes!!

But I just got my grade for my first term paper in Western Civ .. you know, the one I wrote in 6 hours the day it was due, with little research and less preparation? I got a 100. A perfect score. My comments were (paraphrased a little) "Paper was well written, and you used excellent sources". Lookit me go! I was -so- panicked about that paper. It was horrible, by my own estimation. So I'm MUCH relieved that I got a perfect score. Means I have to fret less.

*phews*

It's my day off, but I have a full schedule, I do I do. I have to go to the library, to pick up some sources for our -next- research paper. Then I've got to go to the local stitchery shop .. not to buy yarn, mind you, but to ask about having them embroider something on the little black bags I got for B, L and I for the fiber fair in Asheville. Two weeks away! Woot! It's crept up on us quickly all of a sudden. We had a couple other errands to run too, I think, but I don't recall them right now. B will know, when he wakes up, surely.

So I promised pictures of the almost finished shopping bag.


You can see in the bottom two pattern rounds where it was screwing up somehow, but I kinda like how it looks. Now, if only I could figure out what I did so I could repeat it. I will say I think I need to find some lighter yarn. The Sugar & Cream is a bit heavy for this. I should probably switch to a larger needle next time I make one of these, see if I can't get it to loosen up a little.

Now then. I went to the zoo two weekends ago. (See how behind I am!) But blogger is being a bitch .. again, so I'm going to have to post those pictures later. I have a throwaway camera to get developed anyhow. I'll get back to you with more when I have them. :)

So I've been severely lacking in the posting department. I know. I've just been so incredibly busy, it's not even funny. I have been doing a bit of knitting ... not terribly lots, but enough that I can contribute some progress reports to blogdom.

But first .. has anyone else noticed that Fall .. well .. fell all of a sudden? It seems like it doesn't gradually get dark anymore. It just sorta .. becomes night. I am pleased with the weather change .. we had a brief one a few weeks ago, but it got hot again on us. 80-degree heat .. in October. Ugh! But today I think was the lastbreak. It went from over 70-degrees to probably not more than 65 right now. It's only 71 in the house, and I've had the windows open all day long. It's been delightful.

On to the knitting.

I've finished the knitting of the shopping bag I was working on. I just have to find handles for it, and that will be done. But I'm counting it as completed for the purposes of knitting projects, since there's no more knitting to be done on it.

I've started working on some facecloths for Neely in a scrumptious yet simple purple microfiber. They're coming out nice, though as usual I keep finding some things I would change. I dislike the way stockinette curls, so I've already decided to alter the pattern for the next one. I just can't bear to frog a ton of stockinette knitted on damn 5's.

I know, I've been a baaaaad blogger. I'm back though. I had a lot of deadlines schoolwise, but they're past now, and I can get back on track withe verything. I wanted to post this totally non-knitting-related meme though. And when I get back from work I'll post more, I promise!

--

1. In one sentence, explain what ended your last relationship: Before Jason would have to be my 'last' relationship. Hrm, that'd be Pete, and that'd have to be that he wasn't able to handle the long distance of the relationship.
2. What made you smile today? Thus far? Snuggling with Isis.
3. What were you doing this morning at 8am?: It's not 8am yet.
4. What were you doing 15 minutes ago?: Stumbling down the stairs.

5. Something that happened to you in 1985? What grade was that .. I graduated 92 so .. hrm. 5th. I got in trouble that year I think for spinning a necklace I wore around and around and around on my desk, and my bitchy teacher took it away and I made such a fuss I got detention. (Shocker, right?)
6. Your prom night?: -My- prom night didn't happen. I didn't go to either Junior or Senior proms, though I was on prom committee. (Another shocker, I know.) I did go to Jason's prom though and .. lessee. I got to be shown off like a little trophy. :)
7. Last thing you said aloud?: "I love you. Drive safe." (Me, to Jason before he left to work.)
8. Last thing someone else said aloud? "I'll see you then." (Jason to me before he walked out the door.)

10. What was in the mail today? It hasn't come yet. Hopefully our membership cards for the NC Zoo.
11. What did you drink today? Nothing so far. I will drink lots of water though, and probably some milk.
12. What is your favorite part of the day? When Jason gets home.
13. Your current To-do list? Discussion questions for Western Civ, Exact/Amp'd/Sony at work, Self Test for Spanish 1, Clean my desk, work on Neely's washcloths, Start baby snuggle/burb cloths/bibs, Read some in 'Fall of the Roman Empire' - No more reading last minute for us!

14. Where are your best friends? Neely, Jen C, Nikki, Brandon. Jason, but that goes without saying.
15. What color is your toothbrush?: Fuscia
16. Any plans for tomorrow night?: Relaxing after a long work day for me.
17. Least favorite place to shop?: The mall.

18. Last thing you bought?: A ballcap from the zoo!
19. Last gift you received?: Hrm. Oh! My phone!
20. Funniest thing you heard/saw all day?: Yesterday?
22. What color is your front door?: Beigey-cream.

23. First thing you did this morning?: Blink and try to separate dream from real.
24. Last thing you ate?: Yummy-licious dessert @ Johnny Carino's - Apple Skilletini.
25. Is your cell phone a piece of crap?: Hell no.
26. What's something you look forward to most in the next week?: Getting paid.

27. What's annoying you right now?: That I have to work.
28. Do you believe in long-distance relationships?: I better, I was in one for 3 months and that's why I'm with Jason now.
29. Is there a person who is on your mind right now? Jason, of course. And D, who did this first.
30. Where is the last place you went?: The NC Zoo in Asheboro.

31. Who is the last person you texted?: Jason.
32. Do you look like your mom or dad?: My mom, big time.
33. Do you smile often?: I try to. :)
34. Do you think someone is thinking about you right now?: I like to think so, but probably not. Everyone's either sleeping, or working.

35. Do you wish on stars?: Sometimes.
36. Do you untie your shoes every time you take them off?: Nope.
37. Would you kill someone?: Depends on the situation. If I were protecting myself or those I love, hell yes.
38. When did you last cry?: A few days ago. Work and schol had me so impossibly frustrated, I just sobbed.
39. Do you like your handwriting?: No, it's awful.
40. Are you a friendly person: Sometimes.


(Yes, I know. There's no #9. It came to me that way, so I kept it that way. I wonder if there's a reason, or of someone just left it out once and it's managed to stay that way?)

*flop*

Yes. It's 5am. Yes, I'm wide-f*ing-awake at 5am. No, I don't have any earthly idea why. Nor do I have a clue why I had to log in to stupid Blogger this morning, when I've had myself logged in for-freaking-ever. Stupid Blogger.

I hate that I haven't had a lot of knitting to report on. While the yarn arrived for my friends Candle Flame shawl, I haven't had time to go to the LYS to turn my hanks of deliciously yummy-soft Grape Hyacinth KnitPicks Shimmer into useable balls, so I can't get started on that yet. And the next few days are absolutely awful in the getting-anything-done-other-than-work department. Tomorrow I have to go to Monroe (an hour away) to help with a reset .. this -after- learning that they want me to lose 1 shelf in each of my -5- brand centers ... which I don't have enough room for in the first place in my tiny store. Said reset is supposed to last .. 5 hours or so. Whee. Then I have to go to my own store and work another 1.5 hours. Oh wait, lets add that up. 2 hours of driving. 6.5 hours working. Yes folks, I have to work 8.5-f*ing hours on Sunday. Go me. *flop*

Oh, yeah. And lets not forget that I then have to work 3.5 hours Monday .. which wouldn't be bad had I not worked 8.5-f*ing-hours the day before, most of which doing heavy labor. And then on Tuesday, I have two 4-hour calls, one in Pineville which is 30 minutes away.. So that's 9 hours of work. Oh yes. And the following Sunday I have yet -another- reflow to work. In Gastonia. And I still need to deal with my store having inventory that day. And need to find out if I can avoid having the stupid changes done to my brand centers. Because I can't even do that until after their inventory .. if I can even do it then. I've -got- to talk to Donna.

Need I remind you that this is a part-time job.

Let it not be said I am complaining about the paycheck this will result it. I'm not complaining about that. But my body is already wore-out from resetting my own store .. like, done-wore-out. My calves have been sore and clenchy for the last week-and-a-half. (Yes, clenchy is now a word, spellchecker. It means they feel like someone has their hands clenched over them tightly. Fun.) And -nothing- I do has managed to ease that soreness. I walk 2 hours a night, almost every night. I eat well. I take vitamins. I drink lots and lots of water. And I -still- hurt. And it's making me very irritable.

I am however consoling myself in the thought that I just had a $250 paycheck, and this next one should be in the $450 range. My car payment is $380, which means I have about $300 already to put towards our Asheville trip for SAFF. And another check after that one, which I can't even begin to calculate the hours for, so I'm not trying. Of course, I will be working -double- calls the whole week prior to that week, so we'll see how I'm doing -after- that. I need to find out how she wants me to be absorbing the drive time for all this shit.

I'm awake and hungry, and dammit, I just realized I planned a wonderful breakfast home tomorrow with my husband and Brandon, only to remember I won't fucking be here. Oh no, I'll be gone all fucking day. I've got to stop taking these extra hours. I think I'm going to mail Donna and see if I can get out of working the Gastonia reset. I have no time to see Jason this week at all, with all the extra hours I'm taking, and I don't want to start next week that way too.

Ow.

I managed to injure myself today bringing the laundry into the laundry room.



It hurts. I jammed my elbow rather hard into the coat closet door that wasn't completely closed, because we used to have a hook over the top of it to hang laundry on when it was waiting to go upstairs.

No longer do we have that hook on the coat closet door. I have moved the little bastard to the laundry room door.

That'll teach me to try to do laundry.

Wahooo!

The yarn came for my first attempt at lace! I purchased some Shimmer from KnitPicks, it's a glorious Alpaca/Silk blend laceweight. I got the Grape Hyacinth colorway, and it's absolutely beautiful I can't wait to get this stuff wound into balls so I can get started... I'll have to work on that tomorrow maybe, unless I have to go get Brandon, in which case I'll run to the LYS I like before I head up there.

Look!