And I'm back!

Sitting in front of a massive pile of fiber. Louet Northern Lights, in Grape Jelly colorway.

Yes, I've become a SPINNER!!!

I've had my Louet S15 for a week tomorrow. We're in love and eloping. To somewhere where there's a lot of sheep.

Pics forthcoming at some point. Going to try to blog more starting...NOW.

:)

The yarn has a mind of its own

Sometime around 2003-4, I acquired this magnificent yarn from the now defunct Northern Woolies in Greenfield MA...Green Mountain Spinnery, Day Lily. Orange in its most awesome hue. I attempted an Elizabeth Zimerman sweater, and it didn't work out exactly, so I dropped it and stashed this mountain of orange yarn away in the Stash Box™.

I keep meaning to re-try the sweater, but as of yet, it's not happening.

Today, I learned that Lisa, a dear friend and hero, may be facing cancer for the 3rd time in a short span of time. I am angry, sad, scared, and hoping for the fucking best possible outcome. My heart is with her and Neil tonight.

So about that yarn...I was messaging with Lisa and I asked her if she needed anything, and what her favorite color is, b/c I want to knit for her...

Her answer?

Orange or...fuschia.

AWESOME. I love her more now. When I think favorite color, I expect "Blue" "Green" "Purple"...After purple, my favrorite color is orange.

So there's all of this yarn, and some needles, and a pattern, and a woman who needs every prayer and good vibe she can get. And she deserves so many more, just b/c of who and what she is and what she does.

It's odd how at a time like this I realize the value of knitting in my life. I'm 3000 miles away, but I can knit. I can always knit.

What's new Pussycat?

I've been...busy. Seriously busy. Not so much with day to day stuff, but the stuff in my head, and avoiding it.

Anyway...Cascade Fixation Effects Color 9192, finally on its way to me.

Also ordered a skein of Trekking in some colorway. I'm too lazy to look it up right now...Oh, wait, Aquamarine? It's a gorgeous variegated blue.

Knitting Broadripple from Knitty with Cascade Fixation Effects #9030, Denim. Pretty sock! #1 almost done.

This weekend, I cooked Baked Macaroni and Cheese (Alton Brown), and we made Chip Chops (also Alton)...On Sunday I made Linguine Carbonara at 12:30 p.m.

I'm having a pre-midlife crisis. This 9-5 gig is making me painfully realize that I'm not built for 9-5 work. At all. Or the dress code. I'm rethinking my PhD and pondering: farm + sheep + spinning wheel + ....

Yep. I yearn for my garden. No wonder I'm so depressed. I should be ordering seeds, drawing plots and planning. Hrm.

I have to finish this shawl!!

Arrrrgh. I'm 12 rows away from being done. I also need to order blocking wires from KnitPicks tomorrow.

Goal: 2-4 rows tonight. At 370+ stitches per row, that's reasonable, since I can't just knit straight through like I can with a sock. I need to take breaks.

Oh, and next time I decide to knit lace in a dark color, stop me. Or, buy me higher wattage lightbulbs. Oy vey.

Knitting pattern, brain pattern

I'm very scattered, stressed and worried right now. So I'm skipping from project to project. Socks to socks to lace to maybe a sweater back from the dead. WTF?

Sigh. At least I'm producing. I'm such a process knitter, not a product knitter.

I want my yarn to get here. I did get my knitting with wire book today and the Knitting Answer Book, which rocks. I still want my yarn. Cascade Fixation Color 9192, where are you? You're so pretty, is that why you're never in stock?

I don't want to go home on Friday.

Efficiency of movement

I think about this in regard to both knitting and cooking.

I've been watching myself knit lately. Watching my fingers as they churn out the k2, p2 monotony for 6". My right thumb is...all over the place, but rhythmic.

*I spelled rhythmic correctly on the first try, no spellcheck. I want a medal. That is a bete noire for me.

My right index finger is rolling in circles, wrapping and wrapping.

I need to start watching the left hand.

Efficiency of movement. So important in cooking. When you have 5-6 things going, and it's just you in the little kitchen, efficiency is everything.

The more you know.

Sock Progress

J's first sock is done, second sock is about 3/4 of an inch long so far. I really hope the yarn gets here soon, sigh. I want to have these done by 2/14.

My Amazon books are on their way! I'm so excited to get the wire knitting book. I want to make some jewelry. How cool will that be?

So I will knit the night away, once the Aleve kicks in. Ow.

LOL...my Professor asked me today if I was "nesting", b/c I was knitting socks. Silly professor.