Miracles, great and small

Sometimes life seems hard and it gets discouraging.

I am way over extended in obligations so in an effort to make up time, I sometimes try to double book things, or schedule them too close together. But all that usually ends up happening is that nothing gets done properly and I prove that I am no longer able to multitask like I used to. Getting old sucks!

So I have been feeling a little blue and down. But I did some thinking and realize that everyone hits tough patches and making life good should probably be about being grateful. So I looked around and realize how much I have to be grateful for.

For example, who would have ever thunk that I ( probably one of the world's biggest screw ups) would ever have a lovely little yarn shop with talented people working there (1 who has darling puppies!), marvelous customers and more creative opportunities than can be imagined. It is a dream-come-true but I forget that because I get so immersed in paying bills, dealing with cooling issues, trying to keep paperwork from taking over, etc, etc, etc....... So I took some time to appreciate the miracle of being able to create fiber in all the shades of fuchsia, pinks & purples that I could ever want;


This is the result of my dyeing yesterday. The 2 lighter skeins will be used for the felted flowers for the new Noni Market bag. The deeper purple will be used in the Old Shale socks as the solid color. I will use Baywood Yarns sock yarn in Blackberry for the multi. How blessed am I?

I also have to appreciate the interesting things the universe throws my way. We live outside the city limits on some acreage with various assorted livestock all around. We woke up yesterday morning to find a Canada Goose in our horse pen. Now, I don't know anyone around here who has these birds and can't say that I have seen a lot migrating at the moment.
It spent some time communing with the ostriches next door, then hubby gave it some feed and water and it spent some time in the horse trough. When I got home that evening , it was gone. Now this may be too weird to put out there but the only person I know who adored Canada Geese was my Mom and she has been gone for about 1 year and 1/2. I miss her terribly because I always called her when I felt down and I wonder if this was her stopping by to tell me she is still with me and not to worry. OK, maybe not, but it was very odd and it did make me feel better.

I think the miracles are there, if we just look for them.

A Dyeing We Shall Go!!!

Tomorrow is another dyeing workshop. Joy! I have been restraining myself from dyeing all the time, partly because I'm using up all the inventory that is supposed to be there for workshops, partly because I wasn't doing any knitting. So tomorrow I have an excuse to dye!! Wheee!!!
Yeah, like I need an excuse.......

People ask "but what do you need to dye for, there are already so many colors of so many fibers?" (like you can ever have enough). Ahh, I say, but I don't have what I need. For example, I might want to do these "Old Shale Socks" from stitchesofviolet.blogspot.com but I don't have the right solid color so I need to dye a semi-solid.


I definately know I am making the Market Bag and I don't have the exact "fuchsia" shade so maybe I'll dye for the flowers.

Or maybe (hee, hee, hee, hee, snicker, snicker) I'll just have to dye for both!!! Oh joy, oh joy! I so love dyeing days.

And congrads to Cheryl- she won the Summertime Blues Dishcloth Swap drawing today for the skein of Laurel. Hope to see you tomorrow, Cheryl, so you can pick out your color.

Forget the keeper & Bring on Harry Potter!

OK, I've been told to quit asking for a keeper because I wouldn't listen to one anyway. (How did Bonnie get to know me so well?!?!?). Anyhoo...... I've just been accepted into the Hogwarts Sock Swap!! Woo-hoo!!

Hogwarts Sock Swap Questionnaire

1. What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into? Gryffindor

2. Shoe size? size 8

3. Foot Length? 10"

4. Foot Circumference? 9"

5. List your three favorite double-point needle brands, including size and length.

a. Plymouth Bamboo

b. KA bamboo

c. Colonial Rosewood

In all of them I like #1-2 and 6-7" length.

6. Would you like to try a new brand needle? Sure. If so, which brand? Lantern Moon or any other wood. Size? #1-2 Length? 6-7"

7. If you are a RAVENCLAW, do you prefer the colors in the film or the book? Do you have a strong preference? N/A

8. Allergies? Only the local air. Do you have any? Otherwise, no. Will your knitting be exposed to smoke or animals? No smoke, but animal hair included free of charge.

9. Are you an international participant (outside US)? No. Are you willing to have an international Hogwarts Sock Pal? I would love to have an international partner.

Just realized- this means I actually have to finish a pair of socks. Cringe. A WHOLE PAIR. Are you sure about that keeper business? Couldn't I have one just so I could say "But my keeper didn't tell me that........."!

But seriously, it should really be fun. Think about joining. The link is in my sidebar and signups started on July 14. They are enrolling up to 150 new 1st year students. See you there!

Presenting Baywood Yarns

I am very proud to present a new arrival to ABCs of Creative Pursuits- Baywood Yarns! We are privileged to be only the second shop in the world to have access to this company and Joanne has done a fantastic job of creating colorways that titillate and inspire.

We received 5 different fibers, 3 either all or half silk, 3 that are fingering weight, suitable for socks or lace work. This is the first project we have finished using Luxury Sock & Shawl stranded with a lace mohair to create a self fringing shoulder shawl. This is a soon-to-be-available free pattern on the website. I'll let ya'll know when it is available

This is the Accessory Club project for July 20, the Crystal Headband. Very quick and great gift idea.


And finally, the gratuitous pet photos. The heat has
gotten to everyone and none of my fuzzy kids are
doing anything even remotely cute. So here is what
I wish I was doing-napping!







And this is Uberdog. He is a Vizsla and belongs to Cass, my first upstream swap partner. Everytime I see this picture, I smile. All over. So I asked if I could borrow his image so I could share the smiles with ya'll and, of course, Cass said yes. She is such a doll. And so is he. Are ya'll smiling yet?



Oh, yeah. I got my invite to Ravelry. Now what do I do with it? I am so not a Geek-it will probably take me a month to figure it out. Any keeper offers yet?