A Few Sheep Shy of a Farm

If you don’t hear from me for a while . . . .

It will mean I’ve tossed this computer out a window! I’ve spent the past few days dealing with a series of issues with the computer, probably logged about 30 hours in the past week, trying to fix things that shouldn’t be “broken” in the first place!

The nice guy at blogger took pity on me and fixed what ever it was in my settings that was preventing my posts from showing up, which is the only reason you are able to read this now!

Our computer is having a slew of issues because of viruses and spyware and I had tried to download Anti-everything software . . . but couldn’t get it to install. I tried everything in the online help thing they had, tried contacting them and couldn’t get any assistance, finally tried to get customer service to tell them not to charge me since I can’t use there software, and couldn’t get the “right” person for that. So I called our credit card and they are going to block the charge . . . not a lot of fun.

Then I signed up for the other anti-everything software and downloaded that file. It wants to work but now something is messed up with the windows installer . . . . so I tried downloading the installer from MS, but it can’t be installed because the installer doesn’t work! So now that I feel like I’ve totally lost what was left of my mind . . . I’m going to take a day off from trying to fix it so I can actually get something done today.

That and its going to be like 90 degrees and humid and there is now way I want to sit in that kind of heat fighting with a computer! Just no way!!!

Fiber content:

Yes, I actually do have some knitting related content for you today . . . . Actually, I have a FO to show you!!!!

Yeah, I know, they look a bit funny and perhaps a tad bit lopsided. I started these well over a year ago, using a very simple sock formula that I had found on line, not a regular turned heel, and they came out a bit strange in the heels because of it. However, they are my first hand spun, hand dyed socks. These were done from a roving that I dyed last fall when M, J and A came over for a dyeing day. I’m actually pretty pleased with how the colors turned out. These were done with only 2 oz of wool and I have another 2 oz that hasn’t been spun up yet . . . . The wool is some of the Romney I bought ages ago. Not the softest stuff, but I expect they will wear fairly well. And they give me one more pair of nice warm socks to wear this winter . . . .

Also, the 2nd poncho, the kids one, is just about done. I just need to dye up some worsted weight yarn to match to use for the fringe . . . I am planning to wait until we go back to the cooler weather we have been having before I do the dyeing, there is no way I’ll be doing it today! Perhaps early next week . . .

Well, off to get some things done. It would be a shame to waste such a beautiful day sitting inside at the computer . . . .

Blog wackiness

Okay, I’ve tried like 3 times to post about yesterday’s excursion and while the posts list as a recent post in the behind the scenes stuff, it isn’t coming up on the actual blog. Very strange!

We’re also having issues with pop-ups again. Our computer is set to block them but somehow or other every time I open a page, there they are again. I’m pretty sure we’ve got some sort of bug or spyware or something that is causing the problem. Looks like I’m going to have to kill a couple of hours in the next day or so to deal with this nonsense. I really, really wish everyone would just stay out of my computer. It feels kinda creepy knowing there is goodness knows what put in there by goodness knows who . . . . know what I mean?

This mornings rant . . .

DH is home today, working on his barn. The guy that has been doing it with him won’t be anymore. He would have, but wanted a positively ridiculous amount of money to finish it . . . and this morning the electrician showed up again (far, far too early) and wants more $ than originally agreed to for the job. What is it with these guys? Why can’t anyone just do what they say they will, for what they tell you it will cost? Is it really that hard to honor your word? And for that matter, how can he possibly think that waking up someone who works nights at 8:30 am will be to his advantage? I mean really, we didn’t get in until after 1:00 am last night! Give me a break!!!! Can I tell you had glad I’ll be when this thing is done and I don’t have to watch these guys take advantage of my poor DH anymore? He’s too nice, I would have told them to jump in a lake, long, long ago!

Fall cleaning

Okay, so technically it isn’t fall yet, but I spent about 6 hours yesterday cleaning through the closets and tossing out all the stuff that was just ridiculous to keep. Things that don’t and won’t get worn, are too worn out etc. Not a job I look forward to, but one that desperately needed doing. Now there is actually room for the stuff that needs to be in there. Of course, I still have to unpack all the sweaters and wool pants etc but that can wait something like 4-6 weeks I think . . .

High-fiber diet

One of the things I realized in cleaning the closet is that I really, really need to spend some time pulling out all the fleeces I have stashed back there and getting them scoured. I’ve only done 1 all summer and I must have another 10 lurking back there waiting to be washed. I think that is going to become a fall project. Cooler, dryer weather can only be a good thing when working over a sink full of hot water or waiting for soggy wool to dry, right?

I’m hoping to finish the kids poncho today and if I do I’ll try to get a picture of it either this evening if its done early enough, or tomorrow if I finish too late for good lighting. Its about 2/3 of the way done so I’ve got a good shot at finishing it, provided DH doesn’t get too worked up over other household projects . . .

Well, its almost noon and I’m just really getting started with my day so I’m going to run and see what I can get done . . . . have a good one!

Nothing like an afternoon of shopping and a visit to a fabulous new hair dresser to make a girl feel glamorous!!!

I just came back from an afternoon of clothes shopping, having lunch out and getting my hair done. A and I went to Marshalls, got stuff for DH, new matching cute little purses:

new jeans for me and a bunch of other stuff. Then we went to Panera for lunch. I hadn’t been before though one of these days I’m going to make it to the knitting group that meets there twice a month . . . one of these days. We had the Tuscan Chicken sandwich . . . oh, that reminds me, the Oatmeal cookie we got is out in my car . . . . Then we went to Target, got more jeans, stocked up on plastic storage tubs, a gal can’t have too many plastic storage tubs especially when they are on sale! I got a couple of cute pins and some earrings I’m going to wear tonight when I make DH take me out . . . . and then we went to our new salon for our hair appointments. If you are anywhere near the Malden area and want a new hairdresser, go to Michael’s in Maplewood square!!!

In other news, the beads I ordered last week have arrived, see:

I got these so I can see how they would look with some of the things I’m planning to knit up . . . if it looks like one will work I’ll order more . . . but in the mean time, aren’t they shiny?

Okay, guess I’d better go get a bit of work done around here, before its time to get ready to go out tonight!!!

Now that it works again . . .

I have no idea why it works, but I’ll take it! So, like I said, I was busy last night adding to my list of blog reads. Some of these are blogs I’ve been reading through other people’s links for a while . . . others are new gems I’ve only just discovered. The most recent additions include: Curls and Purls, Digital Yarn, Irish Knits, Mason-Dixon Knitting, Red Velvet Cake, Rose by Any, String or Nothing, Super Eggplant, and Tongue Tied Muse. If you have some blog reading time to spare, check them out!



Hairy situation

So this morning I’m waiting for a phone call. See, we have a friend, who has a nephew, who is a hairdresser. He’s recently gone out on his own to open a new shop. A is having a bit of a hair emergency. School starts tomorrow, she needs a trim and unless we can get her an appointment, her mother may very well cut it for her. If her mother were a hairdresser that wouldn’t be a problem. She’s not. And much as I like her, cutting hair is not something she has a nack for. In fact, last time she cut A’s hair, she cut the whole bottom of the back of it crooked. Noticably crooked.



Now it’s been a few years since I was in Junior highschool, but as I recall, showing up for the first day of 7th grade with a crooked haircut your mother gave you would probably be a bad idea. Don’t ya think?



So last night when she told me that was the situation I went to talk to our friend, who called his nephew, to see if there is anyway they can see us today. He was suppose to call us when he got to the shop this morning. So far, I haven’t heard anything. I also figured, since I haven’t actually had mine cut since May it might not be a bad idea for me to have a trim while I’m there. So we are hoping he can take 2 of us very last minute, though at this point I’d say the odds don’t look good. I’d cross my fingers, but it would be hard to type.



Fibery things

I’ve had the same 2 ounces of merino sitting all spun into singles on my wheel for a couple of weeks now. And the wheel lives in the middle of our living room at the moment, since the barn is not yet finished and we haven’t been able to play musical rooms yet. Keep in mind, the barn was suppose to be done last October, before I ordered the wheel! Anyway, I’m thinking today I might just steel a few minutes from all the other projects and ply up that merino. Afterall, once its been plied I can spin some more, even if it is only 10 minutes at a time!



I haven’t had a chance to dye up any more of the mohair yet to redo the poncho. I did however, find matching beads that I plan to use around the outer edge of it when the time comes. They are pretty much the same color as the yarn so they will mostly blend in, but I think it will give it a nice subtle effect. I’ve also got some opaque beads in a glittery off-white that I’d consider using instead as a contrast . . . guess I’ll decide when the time comes to actually put them in.



I have been working on another poncho. Funny, its in the same colorway, but is otherwise completely, entirely different. This one is done in a “thick n thin” bulky weight yarn. And its a girl’s poncho, with a big chunky folded turtle neck. I’ve been using A as my model for this one. I’ve got about another 6 inches to go on it and then I’ll be able to show it to you . . .



We’ve had some unseasonably cool weather lately, really it feels like fall is here. There is just something in the air, you know, when the light is just a bit different in the evening and even on the warmer days the air just feels different? Well, all this cooler weather has me thinking its time to start knitting some socks again . . . and to finish off the shawl that I have 2/3 of the way done! I think I’m going to need it sooner than later!



Taking care of business

The nice thing about having this new cable modem is that I can do things like make phone calls while I’m typing! I just got ahold of the hairdresser and A and I are going in for our trims at 3:00 this afternoon. We’ll leave a bit before that as there is another errand or two that I’d like to take care of before we go . . . and then I’ll probably be dropping her at her Aunt’s house for a family cookout. If we can find it. Thank heavens for Mapquest or we’d never get anywhere!



Guess that really only leaves me a couple of hours to get some things done around here, so I’m going to go do that . . . . Have a great day!

If at first you don’t succeed . . . .

try until you fall asleep at the computer! I spent several hours last night attempting to make updates to my template, only to find that earler I had changed something somewhere in the settings and now I’m getting an error message when I try to republish so you can see the changes! I tried everything I could think of to fix it but it didn’t work. Now I’m waiting to hear back from tech support. Perhaps they can reset my settings to before I messed it up?

One of the things I spent some time on was surfing around to a lot of the knitting blogs and updating my list of links. I’d been a while since I really added anyone and there are so many good blogs out there! If only I could get the template change to work so you could see everyone I added!

Ah well. More later if I get it working . . . .