A Few Sheep Shy of a Farm

Hi all,

Sorry for the lack of posts lately! Things have been crazy at work; I have a big project that is in the final stages and a bunch of other stuff decided to happen at the same time (of course!) so I haven’t had much time to post or read . . . and by the time I get home at night the last thing I want to do is turn on the computer!

I did have an awesome time at the retreat! It was so great to meet everyone and I promise to post more about that soon! Once I get this project done I’ll have more time again for blogging! I have to have it out by the end of the week so it won’t be long now! I’m reading a bit on others blogs when I can and I’ll post more soon, I promise!

Rumor is I may even have some pictures to post thanks to M bringing her camera to the retreat! See ya soon!

362 Days until the next Retreat!!!

I’m back safe and sound and oh my gosh was that fun! I haven’t laughed so hard in a long, long time! It was wonderful to meet everyone and to be so welcomed by such a group was fanastic!

I’m off to play with my new yarns and fibers but I’ll have a full update on the weekend, work permitting, tomorrow.

Yahoo!!!!

The Knitter’s

Review Retreat is tomorrow!!!!

Can you tell I’m excited?

I’m almost done packing. Just a few more decisions to make . . . I probably

do have too many projects packed, afterall, I need to leave room to buy some

yarn at the shop! There is no way I’m coming home without some of Jennifer’s

wonderful hand-dyed! Its just not possible!

And who knows what else I’ll find while I’m there! Okay, going

home and taking some stuff out of the suitcase tonight!

I’ve made some executive decisions the past few days, I’m cutting

my holiday knitting list. I’ve got a few more things that I am going

to do, but I’m keeping it limited this year. There has just been so much going

on with the trips and the barn project and everything else that I need to take

some things off the list to reduce the stress level. Anyone who doesn’t get

something hand knit is just going to have to understand. And hey, if they are

nice to me this year, perhaps they will get something for next year . . . perhaps.

Yesterday I broke down and ordered the Lazy-Kate for the Jensen wheel. I got

the 4 bobbin tensioned model, as I am spinning some rather fine yarns lately

and would like to experiement with doing more than 2-ply once I get the hang

of this thing. From what I’ve been reading, once you move into 3 & 4 plys

your making yarn that works better for things like cables and textured stitches

and since that and lace are the things I’m interested in at the moment, it makes

sense for me to be able to spin fine singles and then ply several of them together

. . . . my real problem is now that I want to spend all my time spinning on

the new wheel and I keep getting ideas for more knitting projects and even starting

them, but its been a while since I finished much of anything! Oh, well . . .

Well, off to get some work done, since I’m out tomorrow I have a few things

that need to be finished up before I go! I won’t be posting again until probably

Monday, but I’ll have a full report about the retreat at that time. And if M.

remembers her camera, I may even have some pictures!

Happy Wednesday!

Just 2 more days until the Knitter’s Review Retreat!!!! I can’t believe its so soon!

Sorry for the lack of post yesterday, I spent most of the day flat on my back. Yup, by back was out! This is the first time it has happened to me, but DH has warned (his goes a couple of times a year) that once it happens the first time your fair game to having it happen again! YUCK!!! I stayed home for most of the day, but did manage to make it into work for just over 2 hours to get a few things done.

I’m back at my desk today, remembering to stand up on a regular basis (about every 1/2 hour or so) and will stay for as long as I can take it and get as much done as I can while here. This is a tough week as my Boss was away most of last week and Mon./Tues. this week . . . and I”m out Friday to head for the retreat . . . . ah well. At least he is someone who has had similar experiences and is therefore far more understanding than most people would be. I really am very lucky to have the job I have and to have the boss I have, esp. in this economy!

So overall, counting my blessings despite the pain in my back.

Have a great day and I’ll try to post tomorrow one last time before the retreat . . .

Wow! Its really November!!!!

The KR Retreat is just days away!!!! Yikes, guess I’d better get packing! There are going to be some tough decisions about what to bring with me. I plan to try to bring no more than I brought to Italy

M and J came out for a visit yesterday. We had a nice little tea party and I let them play with my new toy, uh, I mean wheel. I’ve also started spinning up a bit of a silvery/grey merino/silk blend. I’ve got the wheel set to the highest ratio I have for it and the lace bobbin on it and I’m spinning some pretty small stuff. Even when I let it self-ply to check the size it winds up being way smaller than anything I’ve done before . . . now the only problem is that I’m really going to need a tensioned-lazy kate in order to ply this without a big mess! Winding onto the ball winder and then plying just isn’t going to work in this instance. Once the yarn is done, the plan is to knit a lace scarf from it, though it may well be spring by the time I finish!

Oh, well, back to the none-fiber portion of my day . . .