Met my Upstream No Sheep Swap Pal

Just received an e-mail from my upstream swap pal. Her name is June and she sounds delightful...and she's the youngest of 10 children! I am looking forward to getting to know more about her. She shared that she participates in a Mystery Swap, which is similiar to the NSSP, except she knows who her partner is....the mystery part is what type of item is provided...that's right item. Apparently, each partner supplies one skein of yarn (their choice) to the other...then the partner knits an item using the skein provided... By knowing your partner, you have a good idea of what she might like. My pal said she knit and felted a bowl then filled it with potpourri and sent it to her friend. Doesn't that sound too cool!

My downstream swap pal contacted me to get the general info and all that...and she gave me a great idea...not that it is anything new...but getting involved with a knitting group....that got me thinking that perhaps I should contact a few ladies to see if we want to get together one night per month for a knitting/book club social.....I think it would be really nice to do and would set aside one evening for a ya-ya event....so we'll see what happens....I'll keep you posted.

Spring Abounds~

Been forever and a day since I took the time to...we'll you know. I've been busy with work, (grumble), house and garden (enjoying tending to the homefront), cooking (got hooked on Food Network and Paula!) and of course knitting to save my sanity. I finished my nieces Christmas gifts - yep! They are all done. I'll upload pictures later. Right now I am working on a large shawl for my sister-in-law in a mohair and bulky yarn in shades of teals, blues and deep plums. Feels divine and looks pretty neat too. I hope she like it. I am finishing a "Linus Blankie" for Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Earl and Joy. She's about 5 months old and ready to take on the world. I've taken part in a No Sheep Skein Swap (nosheep@interweave.com) and am looking forward to my first swap and meeting my secret pal. . more on that later. Had a wonderful Mother's Day, Dear One and the boys treated me to a day fit for a Queen. My mother came over and spent the day with us. After a delicious meal, cards and gifts, Dear One and I went out to plant our window boxes and terracotta containers full of glorious annuals to brighten up the house. By days end, we had done it all and daffodil and tulip cleanup as well. A wonderful day in all.

What once was lost has now been found!

And a chorus of angels sang...hallelujiah!

I found my missing #11 needle tucked away under the cushion of the one chair I didn't search...I thought I narrowed it down to the sofa or loveseat however, the sneaky flamestitch Queen Anne tucked into the corner of the living room was the guilty culprit.

So with that mystery solved, I'm at work on the Moss Stitch set for C07 (JEN) and the Farrow Rib set for (JO). I've started a rolled hat of 100% wool in shades of blue and teal and have to finish that da**m!n C06 gift...It's just that I am a shiny-type of person that gets distracted quie easily...in fact, now I am searching for a pattern to make a delicate, lacy, Moebius scarf in say a red satin mohair.... Yikes! See how easily I get distracted!

I am set on making a list and hopefully working off the list with a minimal amount of sidetrips!

Still counted among the missing

After tossing cushions and pillows, checking under sofa and loveseat and searching the dogs favorite hiding place, still no sign of the illusive and still missing #11 needle... so, one more search tonight and that's it - I'm buying another set!

Filling in the loops about me: In mid-December, I turned two fellow workmates into knitatics....Here is how it started: It was a dark and stormy night....NO, that's already been used.....It was a very bad day at the office and a birthday was approaching.....I said, let's all take lunch together at my favorite little place....The Yarn Basket....both gals got the basics and are hooked, yarn and keepers.....They bestowed family and friends with their therapies of love....and are now moving onto more advanced patterns. Ah, yes....I take credit for helping the GNP in our little corner of the world, while bringing peace and tranquility during a very stressful time.

Making my gift list for Christmas 07 (C07) and upcoming nuptials (my niece)...you know what they say about good intentions (the road to helP is paved with them)! Anyway, I work well from a list...so far, two sticks in progress for the nieces (C07), one stick almost done for a dear friend (C06 - yikes!) while visions of angora and mohair dance in my head! Today a fellow hipknit showed me a dear little hat pattern, so I will add that to my C07 list.

dearOne and I spent a relaxing Sunday, football for dearOne and sticks for me...dearDoggies curled up with us and were quite content.

Fantastic PA Farm Show

Wow! Took a trip with dearOne to the Farm Show on Saturday night. Haven't been since 1970. We had an enjoyable evening with the masses...watched the Tandem Teams in the Equine Arena and I picked the winning team out of the 12 teams! Walked to the Large Arena and squeezed into the nose bleed section, had to stand at the rail to watch high school girls Barrel Race with their well groomed steeds. Each venue surpassed the previous until I found the section of spinners and weavers....met Greta from Persimmon Tree Farm www.angoragoat.com spinning a beautiful hand dyed mohair in shade of misty blues, hushed greens, pale rose and blushing browns...what an art. Her wares were a delight to the senses....I walked from bin to bin caressing each one until I found 3 I couldn't put down. We shared a wonderful time, conversing and sharing how much we enjoy ...Greta at the wheel and me with the sticks...after our goodbyes, I meet Elaine from Out of Hand www.ccrfuzzy.com she took time away from her spinning wheel to educate me on the different angoras. I fell in love (and lust) with the Satin Angora (in red)....a must have, albeit not that night..I took her business card and said I'd be in touch....Greta told me about the Maryland Wool and Fiber Show in May, so I'm Googling to get more details...I told Greta, it sounds like a perfect "ya-ya" road trip for my girlfriends! More later. Oh, one more thing. . . I lost one of my #11's and have torn the house up searching.....grumble!

First Entry

Well, I've never done this before, but have enjoyed other online journals. I'll keep my first entry short. I'm working on relieving stress with knit therapy. You ask what is knit therapy? We'll you've either have been fortunate enough to have had a granny teach you, or if not, then wise enough to take a girl friend to a knitting class. Women with Weapons - sharp sticks, twisting, twirling and knotting wool, silk, cotton or fuzz....words and secrets are shared between the quiet click of needles moving stitches across the sticks. . . new patterns mastered, frogging more than you care to admit, draping every neck in your family and extended with your beginning attempts with the sticks....stay tuned for more..