Leaning over the rabbit hole...

Punkin's been after me for a long time now to learn how to spin on a wheel. Kept telling me that both of us were going to learn how to spin and both of us were going to buy wheels. I resisted, preferring to stick with my spindles (once I started getting the hang of it). She joined our local spinning group, rented a wheel at her first meeting, and about a week later bought herself a Lendrum.

Yesterday I went over her house for the first time since the Lendrum arrived. She made me take my shoes off and sit down at the wheel. She brought out a ball of green roving, got it started for me (after I repeatedly botched it up), and then let me have at it...

A little lumpy here...

...well, that's a little less lumpy...

Gee, look at what I got...

Not sure how many ounces that was, but it kinda doesn't suck.

And... once I finally realized that you don't necessarily have to draft and twist at the same time (which is what I thought you had to do), this was actually pretty enjoyable.

Now, this does not mean that I'm gonna run out right now, at least and buy myself a wheel. Not anytime soon. But... things may be different come festival season--after I get my Moosie...

Knittin' update

Even with the crazy schedule, we do have a little bit of knittin' going on...



Jim's socks have heel flaps, and those heel flaps are halfway done. Yay!

And some Christmas knitting is now underway.



Fetchings for both my mother and youngest sister. Done two-at-a-time (i.e., both left ones will be done first, then both right ones), method from Melissa Morgan-Oakes sock book.

Yes, I realize that Christmas is over. The recipients of these fully realized that they would not be done in time for Christmas, and they are OK with that.

I also realize that I am voluntarily knitting with black yarn. Dark, inky black yarn. And under low light conditions. Black.yarn.low.light. Good times...

And there's been a little spinning too, but no pictures to show. Soon.

Over the next few days I'm going to be putting my ducks in a row so that I can head up to Vermont for some extended time in the house with my beau. Unfortunately, it looks like he'll be working the whole time I'm up there. But on the plus side, at least I'll be up there. :-)

Now I'm off to arrange some ducks...

From my home to yours...

...Merry Christmas!

Another FO

Yesterday there was lots of progress in the knitting department. First off, I finally finished weaving the billion loose ends on my Big Sack Sweater. Almost as big a project as the sweater itself! (Truly finished pictures to come.)

Then, I proceeded to finish Jim's Dashing mitt!



And to think that this one little mitt took me exactly one year... uh, it wound up getting put aside for an eternity a few months.

I think Jim's going to be surprised that I finally finished it, and maybe not so thrilled that he's going to have to model it. Oh well, that's the price you pay for receiving a hand knit from a blogger.

I got lots of cheers from my Sunday Ravelry knitting group at my local Panera for finishing two things in one sitting. Thank you, ladies!!! :-)

Saturday Sky

Sunset in Colrain, Massachusetts

10 Favorite Holiday Songs

E.T.A. another one after Punkin's reminder.

OK, so I'm a week late with this one, but here goes...

1. All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey
2. Handel's Messiah
3. Rudolph the Broken Down Claimer -- a racetrack parody of the traditional Rudolph song (Rudolph the broken down claimer, Had 4 very wobbly legs, And it you ever saw him, You'd think they were wooden pegs... just ask Punkin about the rest of it...)
4. Walking in a Winter Wonderland (as well as the racetrack parody Wagering in a Winter Wonderland (back in my racetrack days I clearing had a lot of time on my hands))
5. Please Come Home for Christmas by the Eagles
6. White Christmas
7. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting...)
8. Santa Claus is Coming to Town (Bruuuuuuuuce!)
9. Santa Baby
10. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus by John Mellencamp

Ice Storm in Jacksonville

Here are some pictures from my front porch. Keep in mind that these were taken three days after the storm.

We interupt a crazy work schedule and midterms to present...

...an FO!!!

I hadn't been able to work on the second sock steadily--just a couple of rows here and there--but they sure did add up! I kitchenered the toe and wove in the ends at the Panera knitting group today.

Details on Ravelry here.

Next up I'll be continuing on Jim's Trekking socks.

Now back my take home midterm...

Eye Candy Friday

Caitlin from Springdelle Farm

What fabulous lashes she has, don't you think?