The Warming House

A Thought to Ponder on This Lovely Day -

2012-02-14T09:31:00.000-06:00

Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring, it was peace. — Milan Kundera

Happy Valentine's Day!

Unbelievable

2012-02-06T13:42:00.002-06:00

Denhoff, North Dakota. February 6, 2012. NO SNOW. Nice but creepy, too. There is some snow in the RR Valley, but entire parts of the state are snowless.

We're also in the three and four minute day period of the year. We're adding three or four minutes per day of daylight. Ahhhhhh. Winter is losing its punch.

Invented design wall

2012-01-30T19:21:00.001-06:00

Invented design wall, a photo by fiberbrarian on Flickr.

It works! I read somewhere that the reverse side of a plastic table cloth could be used as a flannel design wall - and that's what it's doing.

I sat out in the car tonight for a few minutes, listening to the rain. RAIN. We'll pay for it but the rain on the car roof was so great. And in fact, I just looked out the window and there is a smooth glaze over everything. We are gaining three minutes a day of daylight, so winter is grasping at straws, trying to hang on. Another 6 weeks (whatever the GroundHog predicts).

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T14:31:00.002-06:00

What a great day! Washed the car this morning (!), November 24, 2011, in North Dakota! And at 2:30pm, it is 54'F. Hard to believe. Pumpkin pie is cooling; window is cracked open. Turkey breast is in the oven. I'll make mashed potatoes in a bit. Watched the dog show - saw a new dog - Xoloitzcuintli, from Mexico. Amazing hairless but the one shown was gorgeous. And the Packers just won. again. Sun is shining. Except for the mouse that I'm trying really hard to not like, life is very very good.

Happy Thanksgiving, Yanks!

11-22-33

2011-11-22T22:29:00.002-06:00

If it's November 22, there are 33 days until Christmas! 11-22-33. Sweet, huh?

And it's a month until the days start getting longer. So I guess winter is almost over! (HA!)

Happy Birthday, Grandma Van!

2011-11-15T18:02:00.001-06:00

Pumpkin pie from scratch, a photo by fiberbrarian on Flickr.

And here is a picture of my made-from-scratch pumpkin pie. Made it this weekend with my newly fixed KitchenAid stand mixer. I'll probably stick with canned pumpkin but this was an interesting experience. The pureeing of the pumpkin was a hoot - pumpkin goop all over the place. Okay. Cross one thing off the bucket list. :-)

First weaving - finished!

2011-11-05T20:28:00.001-05:00

First weaving - finished!, a photo by fiberbrarian on Flickr.

Rigid heddle weaving - a scarf - finished! A good first experience that gave me plenty of ideas for the next one. Next up will probably be handtowels. Or not. I'm going back to quilting for a while.

80', in OCTOBER.

2011-10-04T21:27:00.002-05:00

Surely something is wrong. The summer we didn't have this year (or last) is showing up in September and October. It's EIGHTY DEGREES! and tonight's low will be 60'. Tomorrow will be even warmer. And tomorrow night going down only to 60'. This is crazy.

However, the weatherman tonight said this is the last of the warm temps we will see until next spring/summer. (I did shudder a bit at that thought.) This weekend temperatures will return to normal - 60's days, 40' nights (I think).

I had a passing thought of plugging the air conditioner back in this afternoon and turning it on. Tuesday, October 4, 2011. What a crazy thought! (I didn't do it.) I'm not looking forward to the horrible vile lasts-too-long cold of winter, but I will be glad when we lose the 80's. Bring on the flannel shirts!

Last of the harvest

2011-09-14T22:23:00.001-05:00

016, a photo by fiberbrarian on Flickr.

Here are the last of the tomatoes and cukes to come out of the summer 2011 garden. Forecast of 26' tonight. I picked everything that even looked like it was beginning to ripen but left the solid green rocks on the vine. We'll see what survives tonight. We're supposed to warm up and stay above freezing for another couple of weeks, but I'm done. Time to pull out the rest of the plants and switch over to bird feeders.

Sept. 11, 2011

2011-09-11T21:13:00.001-05:00

Sept. 11, 2011, a photo by fiberbrarian on Flickr.

Another picture perfect summer day in North Dakota. Ending in a full moon.

Hyles lineata (white lined sphinx)

2011-09-07T19:07:00.001-05:00

Hyles lineata (white lined sphinx), a photo by fiberbrarian on Flickr.

Just stunning. I flushed it when I moved a tomato plant to find any ripe tomatoes. Didn't really notice it until it was flying from salvia blossom to blossom, pulling out the pollen. A hummingbird! That's why I'd planted so many red flowers (salvia and tobacco), but then I noticed its antennae. Eventually it slowed enough that I saw at least four legs. That's when I figured out that it must be a hummingbird moth, something I'd heard about.

Found it on an NDSU moth page: Fauske, G.E. (Sept. 7, 2011) Hyles lineata (Fabricius 1775) in Moths of North Dakota: an online identification guide.
< http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/ndsu/ndmoths/ >
http://www.ndsu.edu/ndmoths/ndmoths/names/7894.htm

111

2011-09-05T22:52:00.002-05:00

One hundred eleven days until Christmas. Recent mornings have definitely been chilly but the forecast is for several days of highs in the 80s - even a 90' on Friday. And no rain. You know what that means? That my tomatoes are going to get thirsty! There's no way I can keep them watered enough to have their thirst quenched. I'll continue to try, but still.

Anyway. I admit I'm getting a bit tired of this summer stuff. I want a few months of cool, clear crisp air - falling leaves - nice sweaters. That's what I want.

But this is North Dakota. There's no telling what'll happen next.

Except that there're 111 days until Christmas. That's good enough for me.

My New Baby!

2011-07-26T20:02:00.001-05:00

JonesHandCrank, a photo by fiberbrarian on Flickr.

Jones Hand Crank sewing machine. 1920s, Manchester, England. Shipping from Texas.

Now I'll be able to attend my first ever TOGA (Treadle On Gathering).

92' with a 74' dewpoint

2011-07-04T18:48:00.001-05:00

Fluff & Spin, a photo by fiberbrarian on Flickr.

and we lost two minutes today. How's that for an Independence Day?! We're paying for it. Temps will be paid for by a huge storm that's already around us. And the lost minutes will be paid for by winter that's just a few months away.

The fiber stuff is from this year's Tour de Fleece. I washed some fleece yesterday and managed to get a bobbin spun today between errands and dissertating.

There are garden pictures, too, but I'll add them another day. My cucumbers are blooming! Tomatoes are stout and hearty. Sweet basil, grown from seed, is prolific. (Very tiny seeds that I didn't measure out well.) Cilantro, chives, onions, and assorted flowers and plants: all well. Except for the pansies and the poppies and the larkspur that got eaten by a mouse or slugs, the garden is going well.

Hail in the upcoming storm. We'll see how we look tomorrow.

Happy Independence Day, USA!

Good News & Bad News

2011-04-15T10:58:00.001-05:00

SoaringEagleGarden_april152011, a photo by fiberbrarian on Flickr.

The Good News: If you missed that winter wonderland picture this winter, you've got another chance.

The Bad News: It's SNOWING on April 15. Not unheard of but I've heard the words demoralizing and disheartening used to describe the event.

I feel the need to start knitting more mittens.

8:00am March 23, 2011

2011-03-23T11:28:00.001-05:00

8:00am March 23, 2011 a photo by fiberbrarian on Flickr.

IT MISSED US!

.5 inches of snow officially. Started out with a bit of sleet but temps were so warm that nothing stuck. We were at the very northern edge of the storm. Manville, just 15 miles north of us, got nothing. Mayville, a half hour south of Grand Forks got 19.5".

Kind of disappointed since I was all ready for a big (BIG) storm, but since that didn't happen, I hope this is the end of winter. Let's move on to the flooding season and then summer. I want some sun and heat!

Road Conditions - 10:30pm

2011-03-22T22:46:00.001-05:00

Road Conditions - 10:30pm a photo by fiberbrarian on Flickr.

Tonight's road conditions around the state. Not much going on around here. The storm has tried to get up here but hasn't really succeeded. We stayed warm enough to get more rain than snow, which means we'll have plenty of ice when the temps drop. Oh, well. Another weather story to add to our queue!

Calm before (another) storm...

2011-03-22T14:52:00.002-05:00

8:00am March 22, 2011 a photo by fiberbrarian on Flickr.

Last week was so nice. As you can see from this picture, much of the snow has melted. There are (hardy) plants coming up on the south side of buildings. So nice. And now there's another big storm to come. Still south of us (Hillsboro) at this time - but the western part of the state is getting hammered. Anyway. This is my benchmark photo. 8:00 am this morning at the front corner of the Soaring Eagle Garden. I'll take another photo tomorrow (if I can get in) or Thursday to show you if the storm materialized or not. Wait and see.

Blizzard!

2011-03-11T20:38:00.001-06:00

March 11 - around noon a photo by fiberbrarian on Flickr.

Couldn't tell it by this picture taken around noon today. The morning dawned bright and sunny. A little overcast at noon. And tonight - at 8:30 - I decided I'd better take the garbage out while I could, and WHAM! The blizzard had started. (I heard it inside but thought it was the train going past. Should have figured out that the train eventually moves past.)

This further emphasizes to me that I'd never have made it as a pioneer. First - if I'd landed on the east coast, I would never have crossed the Appalachians. When I saw a soddy (house built of sod) at DeSmet, SD, and remembered the blizzard/winter scenes from Giants in the Earth, I knew I would've gone insane, too. And then today comes around. Beautiful sunny morning - great day to go out exploring. WHAP! Caught in a blizzard.

I'm so fortunate that strong people came before me.

However, the lights are flickering, so it's time to grab the blankets/sleeping bags and the wind-up flash light. Charge the cell phone. Get out the chocolate.

I'm a Pioneer in my own right.

Definitely January!

2011-01-17T08:50:00.001-06:00

weak winter sun - Jan. 16, 2011
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

January is a cold month up here. Very cold. January is also a month of incredibly bright - almost glaring - sun. There are days, though, when it's cold and although the sun tries, sometimes it only appears - not bright, glowing, glaring - but it does show up. I have those days, too.

This shows my extension cord/engine plug-in system. I used a shepherd's hook last year to hold my plug-in out of the snow and it was great...until we got the record 24" snow fall. At that point, the 6' hook started getting covered in snow from the sidewalk and parking lot. This year I bought a 7' hook and it's working so far. We haven't had any big snow dumps, which is a help.

Merry Christmas! (almost)

2010-12-23T06:09:00.002-06:00

Wow. Straight No Chaser, University of Bloomington. This was playing on KFGO when I woke up this morning. wow oh wow oh wow!! What a great way to wake up.

Tree = perfect
Decorations = operator error

I LUV NORTH DAKOTA!

2010-12-01T11:24:00.003-06:00

I luv North Dakota. Just want to make that clear at the outset. However, we just had a blizzard although it couldn't technically be called a blizzard but it was a blizzard. Snow. Wind. Cold. It was a blizzard. The University of North Dakota even delayed classes for two hours Tuesday, Nov. 30. But today? Gorgeous! Sunny. Crisp. Beautiful sparkly snow everywhere. North Dakota at its wintery finest.

So what comes across the weather page? Special Weather Statement

...ACCUMULATING SNOW POSSIBLE ON FRIDAY...

A WINTER STORM SYSTEM WILL APPROACH FROM THE WEST AND MOVE THROUGH
THE REGION ON FRIDAY. AT THIS TIME...THE LIKELIEST AREA TO RECEIVE
ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL WILL BE FROM THE DEVILS LAKE BASIN INTO
SOUTHEASTERN NORTH DAKOTA AND WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA. SNOWFALL
ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 TO 5 INCHES APPEAR POSSIBLE. THE POTENTIAL
EXISTS FOR A NARROW BAND OF 6 OR MORE INCHES...ALTHOUGH THE EXACT
LOCATION OF THIS POTENTIAL HEAVIER BAND OF SNOW IS UNCERTAIN.

Stay tuned, Weather Bunnies.  This could get interesting.

Fall Festivities in North Dakota

2010-10-09T18:46:00.001-05:00

072
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

Here's a friendly greeting from Maddock, ND. This weekend is their Rural Renaissance. Nice people. Wonderful little town. (The smiley face pumpkin is painted on the end of a giant round bale.) I drove through town, enjoying the decorated yards and street corners. And spent the majority of my time (and money) at the House of Fun. (!) Full of quilts and crafts.

The weatherman reminded us on tonight's weather that it snowed on this date last year. Today it was in the high 70s/80s. I am convinced we'll pay for this later this winter, so I am enjoying it!

The only downside? Someone took my pumpkins. I went out to harvest them last night and all 18 were gone. I got a picture a few weeks ago. oh, well. At least there are still vendors selling pie pumpkins at Town & Country, through tomorrow, I think. Also the apple guys (from Washington state) are here for the next few days. Fresh pumpkin. And great apple pies and sauce. Busy week.

oh. and dissertation and work, too. Very busy week.

North Country Fiber Fair - 2010 purchases

2010-10-03T14:38:00.001-05:00

North Country Fiber Fair - 2010 purchases
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

hmmm. not sure where the photo went. Here's another one!

North Country Fiber Fair 2010

2010-09-19T11:06:00.001-05:00

021
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

My first time attending NCFF in Watertown, SD. web site here.

Wonderful group of people - follow the picture to see more pictures of the event, but mostly my purchases! (Also on Ravelry = NCFF)

Here's my most interesting purchase - felt bases for Christmas stockings! How fun! I got two, thinking they'd be the front and back of a single stocking, but driving home last night, I decided to make two. (They'll just point different directions...perfect for a mantel.) But what to do? Needlefelt? Embroidery? Beads and sequins? I think ... yes!

NCFF runs three days. I went one day and was exhausted by all the energy and great people and food. There are going to be some very happy, satisfied, and tired puppies driving home today. Safe travels to all.

Early morning spinning

2010-07-21T07:04:00.001-05:00

001
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

Does it get better than this? Sun rising. Spinning gorgeous Frabjous Fibers BFL in luscious rainbow colors. Into fat singles. Just let go and let the yarn make itself. mmmm mmmm good.

And the day begins.

FIRST HARVEST!

2010-07-12T22:01:00.001-05:00

FIRST HARVEST!
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

Today was harvest day at Plot #53. The sunflowers are forming flowers. The pumpkins are definitely creating little pumpkins. The beans have small pods. The corn is tasseling. The tomatoes are ... tomato-ing. The flowers are blooming.

They don't need me except to swat the occasional weed and water as needed.

What a great day!

Tour de France Preview tonight!

2010-06-26T08:01:00.003-05:00

The Tour de France will start next Saturday and Versus (the TV channel) is having a preview tonight at 6pm. Just viewing their web site brings the wonderful voice of Bob Roll. Can't wait to hear Phil Liggett (sp), too! They seem un-fluffable, so when they get excited on air - you know it's important!

With the Tour de France comes the Tour de Fleece. And we've got another great group of North Border Spinners on the Ravelry TdF. We're missing a few states and provinces but we've got an even bigger crew than last year. The North Border team was formed last year of the states and provinces along the Canada-U.S. border. It should also be the South Border Team, so maybe next year we should rename ourselves the NorthSouth Border Team. Or not.

I was so excited about the four minute day in February; we've had our first 'minus one minute day' this season. Happened a few days ago. The sun went from rising at 5:29am to 5:30am. Not a huge change but it was momentous. We're now hanging around that time with no changes but the slide has started. No earthly way around it. The days will begin their shortening routine.

My foray into raw fleece continues. I got 1# of Polwarth a month ago, washed it. Combed a bit, spun it, and found lots of bumps. A fellow guild member checked it - second cuts. Plus gave me some hints on combing. (Use the dog combs to flick out stuff rather than the handcombs.) I've continued the odyssey - expanding it a bit - and now have 3# of Cormo raw fleece. Sitting here next to me, smelling of eau d'sheep and begging to be washed. First things first, which means the diss. Maybe tonight during the TdF preview show. That'd be a good time, I think.

Off to the diss. TdF tonight. And more rain on the horizon. Good - cuz you can't have too much rain! (NOT!) But - it'll make weeding so much easier. (That's as good as I can get for the glad game today since the humid air is gushing through the open windows. But - the windows are open! I remember all those winter days when I wished for open windows and fresh air. Good grief. Even more Pollyanna!)

ps - I'm not really liking this new Blogspot template. Need to rethink it. AFTER THE DISS.

4-minute day!

2010-02-12T19:34:00.002-06:00

I never really thought about the fact that we gain/lose time each day as we go through the celestial cycle. And up North - we can gain or lose FOUR MINUTES per day! Pretty astounding. So today is the first four minute day that I've noticed so far this season - that's four extra minutes of daylight.

And today was one of those stunningly beautiful winter days that are picture postcards, ending with huge floofy snow flakes. Just gorgeous.

Plus - it's the beginning of the Olympics! The torch lighting is tonight - and from my out-of-country vantage, the buzz in Canada seems to be "Who will light the torch?" Whoever it will be - what an honor!

And if it's the beginning of the Olympics - it's also the beginning of the Knitting Olympics. I will knit a pair of Oh Canada mittens - and finish the data collection and entering for my dissertation. Plenty to do in the next few weeks.

Citius Altius Fortius !

Winter morning

2010-02-09T09:09:00.001-06:00

Winter morning
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

Beautiful beautiful morning. Cold (-9F), but it's February. Unofficially the last month of winter. Unofficially because it's my definition of winter, but here's the logic: March can be all over the board. March could bring blizzards or unseasonably warm temperatures. February? It's going to be cold. Very very sunny but cold and wintery.

The Olympics start this week - and life will be perfect for a few weeks! One of the many nice things about living up North is being able to get both US and Canada's TV stations. So I'll be watching the big ceremonies on NBC (US) and the actual events on CBC (Canada). Curling! Skeleton! Luge! Speed skating! Snowboarding! Downhill - moguls - and what's that one where you ski forever then shoot at targets then ski some more?! What a sport!

And the Winter Olympics means The Knitting Olympics. I cannot believe it was only four years ago that I first heard of The Yarn Harlot. Her crazy idea of getting knitters around the world to knit together during the Olympic games - it'll never catch on! HA! Life has changed wildly since then so it's a nice moment to slow down and reflect on the great power of working together, of having a common purpose and common activity.

It's winter - the sun is blindingly beautiful and brilliant. What a day.

An Experiment

2010-01-29T07:34:00.001-06:00

Single and Plied
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

I have spun, plied, and knit with Frabjous Fibers before. This time I decided to try to keep the colorway intact as I plied...and I also wanted to see what the natural order of the fiber's colors would do. So I created this little experiment/ensemble: mitts/hat in plied yarn, scarf in singles (garter stitch).

I think the experiment is a success. The singles indicate what the colors look like straight from the BFL fiber braid; the plied indicates what the plied/mixed version looks like. I just plied the singles together - I did no special plying (i.e. navajo) to try to keep the colors more tightly within the colorway.

Pretty!

My favorite tree survived!

2010-01-25T15:49:00.001-06:00

My favorite tree survived!
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

A blizzard this time. We had two days of 34 degree weather with rain, sleet, and freezing rain. Snow and high winds were forecast for last night and I didn't know if 'my' tree would survive. There it was when I looked out today!

I tried to catch the blowing snow with the camera but that didn't work. The temp is low; the wind is high. I-29 is closed up and down the state. Not pretty out. Well, it is pretty as long as you're inside and don't think ahead to the shoveling that'll be required soon.

January is almost over. Much as I love winter - this one has already been too long!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T15:19:00.001-06:00

Christmas Blizzard 2009 Remnants
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

It is a stunningly beautiful (and cold) day in North Dakota. Temps will remain below zero all day and drop dramatically tonight. But we're safe and warm and inside, napping like cats in the sun.

Black eyed peas are about to boil. New Year's dinner will soon be prepared. LSU is ahead of Penn State but only by one point. The outside hockey game in Boston was great. Only would've been better if it had snowed.

A great day for the beginning of a great year.

Happy New Year! Happy 2010, World!

Christmas (and New Year's Eve) 2009

2009-12-31T21:45:00.002-06:00

My buried car - while it was still snowing.
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

That's my car. The white one. In the snowdrift. Several more hours (and inches) of snow followed this picture.

It took me a couple of days and the strong back of a neighbor's son who helped push the stuck car, but I got it dug out Monday night. Actually drove it to work Tuesday morning. Intersections are so piled with snow that seeing oncoming or entering traffic is tricky. The city works director says it will take four to five snowless weeks to get the streets cleared to their full width.

25.1" of snow. Crazy.

When is spring going to arrive? I've gotten my federal tax forms. I've been getting emails from Burpee. (BTW: Their new zinnias - Jazzy Mix - look great. Yellows. Reds. Bright colors. NOT WHITE!)

But. With all my whining. It is gorgeous. There was a sun dog this afternoon as I drove to Target to get ingredients for my new invention: home made pizza! I haven't gotten the whole recipe figured out, but so far: fresh mozzarella, fennel seed, artichoke hearts, spinach, and garlic naan as the pizza bread. So far so good! Oh. And black eye peas. Gotta have black eye peas for New Year's Day!

Happy New Year!

Rabbit, rabbit!

Thanksgiving Evening

2009-11-26T16:47:00.003-06:00

Ahhhhh. This is the quiet time. Plenty of food and football. BIG newspaper filled with some news and LOTS of ads. Cold day. Actually, more crisp than cold. Pure bright sunshine through my south windows. Gorgeous day.

Tomorrow is back to work and the gym. And the end of any shopping that involves a mall until mid- to late-January. Way too crazy out there and certainly not meant for amateurs like me!

The year is drawing to a close. Amidst all the wildness of the material world, this is a time of reflection. A quiet time amidst the insanity. What happened this year? What will happen next year? Hmmm. Time will tell.

Congratulations to Kim for defending her dissertation so well on Wednesday. The whole thing will be done for her soon. Not much longer for me, either. Back to entering data. And maybe another forkful of rhubarb pie.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Flowers in November!

2009-11-20T16:31:00.001-06:00

005
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

Even with our nights down in the teens, these violas (and dianthus) survived. I couldn't resist bringing them in. Such a wonderful present for my birthday weekend!

Happy Birthday, North Dakota!

2009-11-02T22:02:00.001-06:00

Full moon rising
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

November 2, 1889 North Dakota (and South Dakota) were admitted as the 39th and 40th of the United States. My grandpa Van was part of a homesteading family in what was to become South Dakota. Pretty hardy stock - those people who settled here. Hardy - or committed or stubborn or adventurous - or all of these attributes were required to live here. It's not an easy place even now. But the rewards are beyond measure.

This morning as I walked to work - crisp morning air - full moon still visible in the western sky - a honking V of geese flew over head into the rising sun. A spectacular place even within the confines of the 21st century.

Happy 120th birthday, North (and South) Dakota!

Happy Birthday, North Dakota!

2009-11-02T21:57:00.002-06:00

Full Moon Rising Nov. 2, 2009
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

First Frost of the Season - 09292009

2009-09-29T08:21:00.002-05:00

FirstFrost 007
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

First frost of the season. Covered the flowers last night, so I think they're okay. Too cold. Too soon. Did I mention that I HATE scratching frost/ice off car windows?????

BUT it's Homecoming week at UND - and next week is the Potato Bowl Parade and Game - so it's time. Fall is here. I can no longer say that the leaves are turning yellow and falling off because they're chlorotic. Nope. It's fall.

Wool. Mitts. Jackets. Scarves. It's fall!

HatWars - first level

2009-09-20T11:36:00.002-05:00

HatWars - first level
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

Here is my progress on the HatWars hat, first level. I'm doing "The Boy Hat" by Elizabeth Heath-Heckman. I'm at 6.5", which by my calculations means I can start the decreases. My victim's earlobe to earlobe measurement is 17". The pattern says to start the decrease at 2" from the top of the hat/head. So. Dividing that 17" in half (figuring just one side of the hat) equals 8.5" from the cast on to the crown (bind off). Since the decreases equal 2" of that total, I figure that the basic pattern should run 6.5". I hope that's right because I'm at 6.5" and I'm going to start decreasing!

My plan is to get this in the mail tomorrow (Monday) morning. Priority mail with confirmation. And then I'm going to come home and wait for my deadly package in the mail! Can't wait to see what yarn/pattern he/she chose for the weapon.

Just a travelin' gal

2009-09-14T22:18:00.003-05:00

Playing - and I saw this map app. I've been to more states than I thought.

visited 25 states (50%)
Create your own visited map of The United States or another interesting project

Day 12 of the creeping crud. On Friday the doc said I would be noticeably better by Monday and I didn't believe her. I couldn't believe her. I was way too stuffed up and coughie to believe her. But she was right. Today is Monday. I'm still a little croakie but I'm much better. The miracle cure? Water. and Time.

If you must have a fever....

2009-09-05T15:52:00.001-05:00

If you must have a fever....
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

If you must have a fever, this little rubber duckie thermometer will make the experience a little more pleasant. (Zoo Temps by Mabis Healthcare. ASTM Standard E 1112.)

He's stuck in my last undyed 100g skein of Merino fingering weight yarn - just itching to be dyed for the sock blankie swaps going on. Might have to do that today. Along with lots of roving for spinning.

Anyway. Yes, I do appear to have something. Swine or otherwise, I am decommissioned this holiday weekend. It should be over before work on Tuesday, which is good because I've got things to do. This interfered with my weekend plans, however. I'd hoped to take a fast day trip and then hang out at home, working on my writing. Instead, I'm at home, pumping fluids into my body. And the weather is so gorgeous.

Watching the Mizzou-Illinois game. So far, Mizzou is on top. I might be flying my Tiger Tail on my office door Tuesday. Just saying.

Beautiful weather. Stunning weather. Just enough breeze that you won't die from the heat of that focused sun. Gorgeous. Summer was late but it's here for a few more days.

Crock Pot Dyeing

2009-08-31T13:36:00.001-05:00

teal green & yellow
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

Way too much fun! Lanaset dyes from EarthGuild.com.

Started Friday night after work - and ran a crock pot dyeing marathon between my weekend shifts at work.

Very easy and very easy to manipulate the dyes to create color variations.

I will still use the kettle for a solid/mottled single color. The crockpot for variations (roving and yarn). And I'm going to try the oven again to see how that works. I 'oven dyed' roving when I first tried this but managed to damage/felt the wool so it was almost unspinnable. Happily I was a new spinner so didn't know the difference. And I got stunningly gorgeous (and lumpy) yarn from the process. This time I have a better idea of how to treat the roving during the washing process, so I have every hope this will yield beautiful spinnable wool again.

Smiley

2009-08-29T23:28:00.001-05:00

smiley 004
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

Smiley, our beloved painted water tower, is going to be allowed to die. He hasn't actually been a working water tower for years, but standing guard and welcoming people as they travel along South Washington Street is not enough to warrant his upkeep. So he'll be torn down this fall some time. The demolition is less than the upkeep, so he'll soon be gone. Such a sweet smile.

Sock blanket

2009-08-20T22:35:00.001-05:00

Aug. 20 - sock blanket
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

Here's an update of the sock blanket. The picture shows two sections set in together to show how far it's grown.

Not much going on...except all the schools start next week. The town is already showing lots more activity than we've seen all summer.

The weather is not being very summer-y. We've complained all season that it hasn't felt like summer; it's felt more like fall! And now here it is - school starts next week, football will start soon...it IS fall!

sock blankie

2009-08-12T21:19:00.001-05:00

blanket so far
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

I am smitten. I could not resist! I've got a small basket of single blocks ready to add in.

Too. Much. Fun.

But running out of yarn combinations. I'm going to give up and do it totally 'scrappy'. Whatever I pull out of the basket or yarn bag - that's it. No second guessing. Just start knitting.

Not going to happen. I can do it in quilting but not ready to do it in knitting yet. Knitting is so much slower than piecing.

I'll just have to keep looking for more sock yarn to add to my menage. LOL

HOT!

2009-08-09T17:41:00.001-05:00

HOTAug092009
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

Today's paper included ads for snowblowers and snowboots. And that's far closer to what it's feeling like than the upcoming few days of glowing sun icons with the warning "HOT".

I finally put in a tiny flower garden. Salvia (red), alyssum (white), dianthus (pink/red). To go with the volunteer sunflowers (yellow) and the out-of-no-where violas (yellow/orange, blues). Here's hoping that Mother Nature did not hear about the ?goldenrod? (some flower) blooming - apparently a frost will occur 30 days after this flower blooms. Oh, dear.

Beagle Scarf - Home Spun

2009-08-03T23:04:00.001-05:00

Beagle Scarf - Home Spun
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

LUV this pattern and collection (Berroco Norah Gaughan Collection: Men). My homespun Merino, 2-ply, size 5 US needles. Easy pattern - just count...and the pattern is starting to help me remember.

Fall seems to be setting in even as we're supposed to get a few 80' days next week. Just doesn't feel like summer. And now the days are definitely shortening. Keep this in perspective, though. The sun isn't rising until about 6am - and it's going down around 9pm. That's still 15 hours of sunlight. But losing that 30+ minutes in the morning is definitely being felt.

Football starts next weekend. Hockey starts Oct. 1. Curling will occur somewhere in there. Then it's Thanksgiving - Christmas - Winter Olympics! What a year!

Tour de Fleece Ends!

2009-07-26T16:45:00.002-05:00

Tour de Fleece - closing
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

Today is the end of the Tour de France and Tour de Fleece. I think I managed to watch at least some of the racing every day even while traveling. I didn't spin everyday, however. I had a good time, though, and learned lots more about the race itself. And the teamwork involved. Stunning.

Eight ounces of plied "Moulin Rouge" will become mittens and hats.
Four ounces of plied "Cottage Garden" will be mitts/hats - and four ounces singles will be woven into a scarf. (Rigid heddle - my Christmas present to myself, I think)
Finally, 8 ounces of natural New Zealand wool - this will go into the pile ready for "August - the Month to Dye For"!

Today is also my mom's birthday. How appropriate that the last day of the tour ended in Paris - and the only time I've been to Paris was with my family years and years ago - and that it is her birthday. Happy Birthday, Vik.

End of the "Moulin Rouge" BFL

2009-07-06T22:13:00.001-05:00

End of the "Moulin Rouge" BFL
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

Tour de Fleece 2009 continues. On Day 3, I finished spinning the BFL...and started plying. Looking forward to fulling the yarn. BFL takes on a wonderful sheen after washing. Delightful to knit with. I have one more 8oz braid from Frabjous Fibers to spin. The next colorway is Cottage Garden. I have some natural (creme) BFL in the stash. That will be interesting to see how that spins - and eventually dyes.

Happy Independence Day!

2009-07-04T10:36:00.001-05:00

Tree -
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

Such a busy day already! Tour de Fleece has started, and I'm spinning Frabjous Fibers BFL "Moulin Rouge". Time trials for Tour de France, and the beautiful Monico, on in the background.

Going to be a gorgeous day - not too hot - not too windy - just right!

This is a flowering tree from in front of the Chemistry Building at the University of North Dakota. There's a pair of them, one on either side of the front entry to the building. What is the tree? I can't remember! It's some version of a lilac, which is why we noticed it in the first place. Lilac leaves, lilac flowers, even lilac odor - but not the typical lilac bush that is ubiquitous around here! Definitely a tree.

Have a great day, Everyone. And Happy Birthday, United States of America!

Happy Canada Day!

2009-07-01T07:42:00.003-05:00

Happy 142nd Birthday, Canada! And may you have many, many more!

Birthdays are fun - and national birthdays are even more fun! I've got CBC Radio Two playing in the background - all Canadian music today. Nice. Have a great day! (Don't party too hard, though. Tour de Fleece starts Saturday!)

Minot Knitting!

2009-06-20T14:20:00.001-05:00

YarnStash_June202009 001
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

Another great visit to the Bagel Shop and YarnStash. We spent time winding down sock yarn into little balls to share for the Sock Blanket.

Beautiful drive over here! Met a birder from St. Paul - he suggested that I actually STOP to look at the birds rather than drive past at 70mph...or at least slow down to 50! LOL

More later when I get home. Time to get the yarn swap moving!

Group picture. TdF 2009

2009-06-19T12:01:00.002-05:00

Group picture. TdF 2009
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

Tour de Fleece 2009 is gearing up. The North Border Spinners is a group formed of spinners along the Canadian-US border.

My stash is about 20# (!) if I got the ounces/grams added correctly. Here's a list of what I have:

Yarn Stash/Minot, ND (YarnFloozie)

8oz br BFL top Frabjous Fibers #10 Moulin Rouge
8oz braid BFL top Frabjous Fibers Cottage Garden
4 oz Merino silk 80/20 Lichen Louet
1.5# Fine Brown Shetland Louet
.5# Fine White Shetland Louet
1.5# Blue Face Leicester Louet (white)
1# Wensleydale Top Louet (white)
.5# South African top Louet (white)
.5# light grey swalesdale Louet
.5# angora lambswool 50/50 Louet

From Hillcreek Fiber Studio/Columbia, MO (no rav)

1 oz French angora (clipped) “Giant”
8 oz Cotton Sliver “Coyote” New World Textiles
4 oz Cotton “PaloVerde Green” NWT
8oz Carolina Cottolin (70% cotton/30% flax) NWT
2.5 lb NZ corriedale roving light grey
2# 3oz NZ corriedale? carded sliver - natural white
2# NZ corriedale roving natural med grey

from Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe/Columbia, MO IdleKnit

BIG BAG (?5#?) romney? corriedale? “Rambo” med grey.

I CAN'T FIND THE REMOTE CONTROL!

2009-04-12T13:36:00.003-05:00

I can't find the remote control and it's going to make me nuts. What did we do before? Did we really GET UP and turn the volume up and down for commercials? Or did we suffer through the volume BLARE when they're on, just waiting for the TV show to come back and the volume return to a bearable level?

It's bad form, I know, but I do often write with the TV quietly on in the background. I'm sitting perched in the living room, laptop on my article/file crate that's on a stepstool. (Not as precarious as it sounds.) I turned Weather Channel down long ago so I could concentrate on something (someone has written my dissertation AGAIN - not really but it took me a while to calm down) but now I want to switch to CNN because the ship captain has been retrieved alive (I heard on a CNN email alert) but I'll have to go over and change the channel and then it'll be up and down volume over and over and over.

WHERE'S THE REMOTE?????

In the meantime, here's a picture of my work desk (where I am not at this moment):

(Found it. Had dropped down into the crate of folders/articles. Peace reigns at last.)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2009-03-17T06:33:00.001-05:00

handspun BFL - mitss and scarf and leftover
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

Here's a photo of my latest project - hat and mitts from homespun and commercial yarns. Since there's yarn left? A matching hat is on its way!

Full Moon Flooding

2009-03-13T10:34:00.003-05:00

Okay. It's not a real picture, but this is pretty close to what the moon looked like Wednesday night after the blizzard. Maybe some 'moon dogs' (reddish/yellowish crystals encircling the moon) and a stark white landscape. But this is pretty much what it looked like then. And almost like this when I drove in this morning before the sun came up. I'm not playing Pollyanna's Glad Game - the crystal clear nights are worth the cold. (Most of the time.)

We are definitely getting signs of Spring up here. Flood forecasts are out. It's not just me; flooding is in the news more this year than last. Fargo is going to get creamed. Because the Red River (of the North) flows north, we'll get the Fargo water, but our river channel is wider here so we can take more water (so I've read). The prediction is more than 70% that we'll get a major flood, which will likely close two of the three car bridges to/from East Grand Forks. The railroad bridge will get flooded, too. But the flood wall and dikes are supposed to take us to the 50+ feet marker.

I looked around my place this morning and decided: anything that gets left behind will be thrown out if we get flooded. I can't deal with sewage and mold and the various other offal things that wander in with flood water. So now is the time to figure out what's important and what isn't. I guess preparing for floods is the ultimate spring cleaning!

EZ surprise jacket

2009-02-01T22:31:00.001-06:00

EZ surprise jacket
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

Finished! Paton's Kroy sock yarn. LUV the color of the variegated. Found it by chance at Michaels after reading that they now carried sock yarn. Went back to buy more...gone. Clerk not really clear on if they would be getting more. With the economy as it is, I guess I should be happy that they're still here.

Still. It's beautiful.

Close call!

2009-01-15T09:04:00.001-06:00

handspun Romney shawl
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

My (almost) worst nightmare happened last night: My car got unplugged.

I'm sure there was no malice - someone must have tripped over the cord as they walked by. (All the cars are plugged in with cords that cross the sidewalk and plug into the building. Not great design.)

The car definitely was not sure that it wanted to start but just at the point where I had to decide to continue turning the key - and taking the chance of totally killing the battery - or stopping, the car turned over and started. WHEW! The temps won't get high today, so I'll be out starting and warming it up.

Last night I finally got pictures taken of things I will send out via Macuwita Sni. The handspun Romney shawl is the big item. Roving from The Fold and the wonderful Toni Neil. Great person - super teacher - excellent vendor.

This cold spell has been hard on more than cars. The bunny pictured earlier has been around. He's not crazy about the 'wild life' food I bought for him. I saw a peanut shell, neatly opened. The raw uneaten peanut sitting there. Even its red covering had been removed. All carefully left behind. Uneaten. And s/he doesn't like corn either. I'll get some bird seed. That seemed to get eaten. By something.

The squirrels have built tunnels in the snow. I discovered that when I put some seed out under a tree - heard a squeek and saw a flash that disappeared. Eventually tracked it to a snow burrow. Pretty smart use of the environment! There's not going to be much thawing until April.

Wow. That is a depressing thought. I notice that I'm knitting with bright colors now. Must be a reaction to all this white! Luv the Romney shawl, but I admit I wanted to throw it in a dye pot and give it some zip!

Bunny catching some rays!

2008-12-28T15:09:00.002-06:00

dec28_2008 005
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

Look what I saw when I opened my curtains this morning: A bunny, soaking up some rays! Obviously a very smart bunny, resting its back against a black rubber heat-attracting tire. (And his brilliance was reinforced by the fact that he took off when my neighbor showed up to get in her car.)

Post celebration shock. Or maybe it's mid-celebration befuddlement. There's so much to do and yet it's intersession - aren't we all supposed to be on vacation, taking life easy?

It's beginning ...

2008-12-08T15:00:00.004-06:00

Christmas - front window/yard
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Snow and lights and cold. (and somebody's bike on the front porch)

I'm on vacation - just stopping in to empty the camera and check e-mail/Ravelry.

Not too much going on outside ... can you see my new green extention cord? The car LUVS being plugged in! Starts right off. And I love the lime green cord. Makes me happy just looking at it.

I'm sending off a big box to Macuwita sni today. Here's the contents:

17 hats, 7 mittens, and 1 scarf. I had hoped to find someplace to send them in North Dakota, but it's getting too late and too cold to hold out for preferences! These knits want to warm someone - NOW!

Off to the post office ....

Christmas knitting

2008-12-02T08:36:00.003-06:00

I am spurred to write this because of the Yarn Harlot's annual I've got the Christmas knitting undercontrol post. This year's Unstoppable was posted Monday, Dec. 1...basically spitting into the wind.

My holiday knitting plan is different. I knit - and then decide who gets the item. A very simple solution. This comes from many years spent laboring over hand-quilted, -sewn, -crocheted, and -knitted gifts that have been treated as if they were bought at WalMart.* I admit to several post-holiday times when I'd find my carefully made item in the kids' toy box or under a plant or somehow in harm's way. It took me years to finally realize and accept that most people mean well - but they have been raised in a throw-away society.

We'll buy another one later.

And when they see all the cheap handmade items in the stores (and don't see all the poorly paid labor that went into making them) no wonder they don't respect my gifts! I'm not holding myself up as someone beyond this mentality! I can be just as wasteful as the next guy. But I am learning. And I am drawing a line.

This year's holiday knitting goes to afghans for Afghans and Macuwita Sni (South Dakota).

And maybe I should start thinking about my New Year's resolutions -

be more public in my knitting/quilting/spinning
start teaching these arts and crafts

Maybe. We'll see. In the meantime, I need to get some boxes packed and shipped off! Good luck, Yarn Harlot!

*NB: I do have a few people (only one of which is a Muggle, though) that appreciate and respect my labor. They've been known to get a present or two from me.

HolidaySwap 2008 from OzKnitter!

2008-11-24T08:41:00.001-06:00

HolidaySwap 2008 from OzKnitter!
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

Here's the open box from OzKnitter that arrived on MY BIRTHDAY (!) November 22, 2008. Part of the HolidaySwap on Ravelry, we agreed to open only one present before Christmas. OK was nice enough to include some unwrapped snacks, too. The top left shows a magazine of beautiful food and tables. The silver envelope includes my card and ornaments. ORNAMENT PIX COMING!

Why did we agree to wait??? LOL

First frost on the car = First day of winter

2008-10-20T08:52:00.008-05:00

First frost on the car = First day of winter. Or at least the slippery slope is viewable.

I hate scratching car windows. Brrrrr. A shiver of (negative) anticipation just went through me: shin deep in snow, trudging a path to the car. Starting the engine, hearing that annoying beeping sound as I leave the car running and get out to start scratching. Swearing, realizing I've got the wrong mittens on. (Yes, I actually have HUGE ungainly mittens for scratching. Warm but so bulky that I can't drive in them. Perfect for scratching.) Annoying dinging again as I dig inside the car for 'ice-scratching' mittens. Ding ding ding ding ding. (Like I don't know the car door is open.) Ding ding ding ding.

This is the about the only thing I don't like about winter -- scratching the car windows enough to be able to drive to work.

Because the first frost also means that I can put out the bird feeders and the suet thing. And only 66 days until Christmas! Plus this weekend I saw a gorgeous sugar maple just a few blocks away. And I saw a special display of lefse makers at a department store this weekend, too! And lights are starting to show up in windows.

That's one of the nice things about winter darkness - seeing lights in the windows. They are especially sparkly in the cold frosty winter air.

NOW I'm starting to remember what I luv about winter.

Summer happened - and back to winter!

2008-10-16T15:37:00.001-05:00

Fake Isle in progress - October 2008
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

This is something I'm working on. The materials were a surprise gift from my friend Cyndi. The great thing about this pattern is that it lets the yarn do the work.

Snowy Saturday of spring break

2008-03-09T16:51:00.001-05:00

Chester Fritz Library - March 8, 2008
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

Here is my Saturday picture. I've seen some of the blogs of the Saturday picture group. So nice to see a snapshot of the world on one day! I don't want to be that organized, but I carried my camera with me yesterday on campus. This is a view of Chester Fritz Library during a little snowstorm (officially 2.4", surely seems like more) on the last Saturday of Spring Break. All is quiet in this part of the world.

Hat Attack

2008-02-11T11:02:00.001-06:00

binary cable hat - Hat Attack 2008
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

My binary cable hat for Hat Attack 2008 is DONE! As of last night (Sunday) at 9:15pm. I actually had stuff that needed to be done this weekend, so I could not knit full-time on this. I also spent way too much time doubting the pattern and my skills.

The designer did an excellent job - everything worked - and I learned a new way of looking at patterns. Really! I went back to my lace knitting this morning (got one more set done) - and realized that I could now relate the pattern to what was actually happening in the yarn. That insight is directly because of knitting on the binary hat. I spent so much time examining the cables and comparing them to the pattern that I must have learned something! Whoda thunk it!

This is Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted - in amethyst. Uses less than a skein. I think the color is perfect for it, the rich hue adds depth to the cables IMHO. The designer specified this yarn specifically because it produces \| stitches rather than \/ (balanced?) stitches. You can really see that in this hat - the vertical legs of the stitches in the cable create a beautiful line that emphasizes the cable's shape. Good work, Designer! I learned so much!!!

And this morning I went back to my lace knitting.

I'll get the hat into the mail today or tomorrow. I'm thinking tomorrow since it's cold and our branch post office closes in a couple of hours. (I am just getting warm from my trip in to work this morning!) My assassin has said that her weapon is in the mail, so I'll be out soon. No rush to kill off my victim. I finished what I wanted to do - and learned so much more than I expected. Good experience!

Not my original plan

2008-02-09T12:30:00.001-06:00

First lace scarf
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

Starting on a knitted lace scarf last night was not my plan. The night before Hat Attack? Start a new project???

I did two bumps last night. The rest I did this morning, waiting for my courage (and the pancakes) to kick in so I could head out into the blizzard. Since I live in town, the blizzard is not too bad -- just horribly cold. (-6'F, windchill -33. winds at 26mph gusting to 34mph)

This lace scarf is SOOOO fun! Now I sort of understand how people can get addicted to lace.

I found this in the Web catalog (http://www.yarn.com). The pattern is from Misti Alpaca (http://www.mistialpaca.com/). Here's the link to Asphodel Lace Scarf (http://www.mistialpaca.com/patterns.php?name=Asphodel%20Lace%20Scarf&imgs=2&patt=14&page=1&ID=Free%20Pattern)

This scarf pattern tells you to knit the two ends first (this is 5/9th of one end - there will be 9 bumps when it's completed). Then turn the bumpy side down and pick up stitches from the smooth end and begin knitting the scarf. It's the scarf pattern that boggles my mind - it's covered in little lacy stars!

BTW: the flash on the camera really ruined the subtle coloring of this yarn. I hadn't even seen the striping until I looked at the flash picture. The color is quiet - subtle - Anne Black - includes black and purple and navy and bronze/copper. Gorgeous.

I was going to take a picture of the blizzard to show you what a blizzard can look like in town - and I actually stopped on my way into the building, and then realized I would have to take off my mittens. I didn't even get to the part about having to take the camera out of its bag, aim and focus, etc. The thought of taking my mittens off stopped me cold. So - think about horizontal fog...whapping at you...and instead of that misty dewy feeling substitute a sharp angular biting sensation. That's the Cliff Note version of a blizzard in town.

Seriously, I had planned to come in really early to get the Hat Attack pattern. Hearing the wind that came in about 4am made me think that I'd wait a bit. Then listening to the radio - a sheriff from a little town up north called in asking for help. He asked that the radio broadcast a message to the woman who had been stranded for three hours in a ditch somewhere, with low fuel and a now-dead cell phone: "Hang on. We're trying to get to you." He called later to say the same thing to a man who was stuck (except that he had a full gas tank). Much later, or so it seemed, he called in to say they'd gotten the lady, and they were on the way to the man. Visibility could be measured in feet.

Seriously. You don't mess with blizzards. You take Mother Nature very seriously.

Okay - off to Hat Attack!

(One more thing: the KnitPicks (www.knitpicks.com) catalog references 'doing cables' tutorials on their Web site. I need to let my assassin know - she's new at cables.)

BLOOMING impatien - feb. 6, 2008

2008-02-08T11:53:00.001-06:00

impatien - feb. 6, 2008
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

Spring is springing eternal around here! I was hoping these cuttings from last summer's garden might survive through the winter, giving me a little bit of life in the house. I had no thought about them blooming! What a happy surprise! Especially with the blizzard blowing in tonight!

Yup. Blizzard tonight and tomorrow. Why now? I am sure it's because the Hat Attack pattern will be released tomorrow morning. (I'm pretty sure that the weather is based around my calendar! LOL)

My victim is in Michigan. (KNITTED HAT victim in case that sentence just set off some Patriot Act software in the sky.) Not a good sign when I signed on to Ravelry and my victim had already found me and sent a note. But at least she's my victim - someone else has to worry about her as an assassin! MY assassin is in Texas, and I got a note from her, too. These seem like lovely people - but all's fair in love and Hat Attack!

I'm thinking that I might contact the GF Air Force Base to see if they could deliver my hats. I know we don't have the same US Post Office access as the big cities. (Someone on the list said that MPLS has 24-hour service at the air port! Which is why I'm thinking we should bring in the air force. They're flying around anyway. What's a stop in Michigan?! LOL)

Okay. Back to the flower and good calm thoughts. Seriously, the plants are waking up. I've got a little rubber plant that's been sitting for a month or two - suddenly it's growing like mad. I look out the window and do not see what they see/sense. But I trust them, so I think we will have spring this year!

KoolAid Scarf!

2008-01-31T15:03:00.001-06:00

KoolAid scarf - whole
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

I've finished the KoolAid experiment - here's the proof!

The entire experiment (started last August) is in my Flickr area ("KoolAid"). The scarf is cast on and knit length wise. It's about six feet long. Mixed garter, stockinette, and reverse stockinette pattern by rows. Picked up and knit the ends in garter, using the two different greens in the scarf. Makes it look sort of patchwork-y.

I'm pleased with the experience. Not likely to do it again, but it's reminding me of August, which was a very nice warm time here. Almost hot.

The last couple of days have not been warm and certainly not hot (nor humid, either, so let's not be too harsh). It's now 6' above zero, which is the high temp for a few days, I think. The weather looks like we might be moving to a post-winter time. I don't think that's too wishful thinking. There are still cold snaps but they seem to be lasting only a couple of days. And the sun is bright and shining, just like I remember.

The day before yesterday was coooooooooold. I ran out to OfficeMax on an errand - and saw my first 'sun dog'. That's when a rainbow appears with the sun at its center. Must be the ice crystals in the air, reflecting on the light. Gorgeous. Still very cold, but pretty, too. It was worth the trade off.

I'm playing/working with Wimba and podcasts in my other life. When I get something together, I'll post it over in Fiberbrarian. (I guess I should check and see if it's still there.)

I have been knitting and spinning - just not posting. With the loss of Edwards' candidacy, I guess I've been spurred to action.

Almost everything you do will be insignificant, but it is important that you do it. --Gandhi

Enough said.

There IS a Holly Hobbie!

2007-12-14T07:54:00.000-06:00

Good posts I've run into in the last couple of days:

Kristin Nicholas is a writer and fiber designer. Her blog always carries news of her travels, farm and work. Here's a recent post about meeting the artist/author Holly Hobbie, who has continued on beyond those wide-eyed children of 30+ years ago.

http://getting-stitched-on-the-farm.blogspot.com/2007/12/meeting-real-holly-hobbie.html

And, I hope you read the Yarn Harlot's ode to holiday concerts and how they proceed through time. She looks back as a mother of three and an audience member. I think back as a participant. Her post: http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2007/12/13/the_kid_with_the_viola_was_pretty_good.html

Square hat or Flat hat?

2007-09-26T13:58:00.001-05:00

squarehat_innards
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

I'm continuing to knit some. I've recently been playing with a pared down embarrassingly simplified version of the 2-headed hat, which was simple in the first place.

The flat hat (square hat?) removed the shaping at the top of the head, which was the only actual work required for this hat. (I topped doing the provisional cast on about midway in the development of the 2-headed hat. I'd rather start knitting and then have to pick up stitches later than to have to delay my knitting by a minute to do the provisional cast on.)

Follow the link to more photos of square hats (flat hats?).

North Dakota!

2007-08-07T08:12:00.000-05:00

I'm back! A little more than six weeks now. I remembered August as being a livable month here, and it is. Our temps this week will be a tad warmer than normal: mid-80's for the days, mid-60's for the nights.

My knitting has been greatly curtailed because of too much to do in my academic/professional life. I think I'm going to put my handwork on hiatus. Yarn, fiber, knitting needles, patterns are all going into the closets until I get some work finished. The spinning wheel and loom will be decorative furnishings since they're too big for any closet. I'll try to finish machine sewing a couple of quilts that are almost done, but that's it.

However! Here are some things that I managed to get done in the last few months. Most of them were done back in June, but the KoolAid dyeing was last weekend. What fun!

KoolAid dyeing:
(top left) Grape, Tropical Punch, Pink Lemonade, Ice Blue Raspberry Lemonade
(middle left) Lemon Lime, Watermelon Cherry, Orange, Blastin' Berry Cherry
(bottom) Mix of Lemonade (4 pkg) and Ice Blue Raspberry Lemonade (1 pkg)
[2 minutes in microwave on high, rest, ~1.5 to 2 minutes microwave on high]

2-headed hats (lined stocking caps) and a muffler in various yarns (Iceland, Loft, Lion brand wool, Bonkers)

Irish Hiking Scarf in Loft.

While I was photographing, I noticed the stone work. How beautiful! Above is the stonework (south) entrance to Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota.

The north entrance to Chester Fritz Library.

7 things -

2007-06-10T14:53:00.000-05:00

I've been tagged by Jen over at http://www.newtonsknitting.blogspot.com/.

From her blog:

Here are the rules, as if you haven't already seen these a jillion times: Tell seven things about yourself on your blog, then tag seven other people to do the same. List who you are tagging on your blog, and leave a comment on their blogs to let them know they've been tagged.

I can do the seven things - tagging seven other innocent people may be the tricky thing!

I like winter. Not crazy about ice on sidewalks or roads, but luv it on lakes and rinks.
I am moving from Missouri to North Dakota. This is my 2nd move in less than four months, and no, the second move is not easier because I know what I'm doing! :-)
I really like birds. I didn't realize how much I enjoyed watching them until I started routinely filling up the birdbath that came with the Missouri house - and the birds showed up - and I moved a chair to the front porch and started watching them. Yesterday I saw four birds splashing about together at the same time. Once I saw a 'new' robin, stare at a starling splashing and bathing, obviously never having seen anything like this before. The baby robin kept dodging the splashes as it held on to the rim of the bird bath. I have had so much fun with these little guys. Yesterday, a male and female cardinal flew to the fence just in front of my chair (less than 2 yards away) and sat there and watched me for several seconds. They looked right at me but didn't fly away. Like they knew I was moving to North Dakota and wouldn't be seeing cardinals for a loooooooong time. (Cardinals are listed as 'rare' birds on the ND bird watcher list.)
I believe in libraries. They are the gift that keeps on giving. From one generation to the next and to the next.
I like rain - the sound and smell.
I like wind. I look forward to spring when the wind has leaves to blow through - totally different sound.
I like music. I especially like when people make their own music rather than relying on commercial performers.

See? The easy part is done. Now finding seven people .......

Alaska Stick Girl - has she got pictures! She's just moved to a new blog page, but I hope she's still got the 'moose in her yard' pictures!
A Dachshund's Life in Los Angeles - Wally is a long-haired dachshund. He had his own blog but found life too busy, so now he lets his Mom do the blog. Great pictures of Wally and his friends/family.
Lorri's Knitting Link - Lorri is a friend of Maggi's. While visiting Chez Maggi, she commented on the cat bed I'd knit/felted for Ayla. Well - she made the mistake of introducing herself and commenting on a post here at the Warming House. Tag! Check out her knitting - I could not believe how beautiful her work is and that she could still appreciate a klugey felted cat bed. When she is doing stunning colorwork sweaters! Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous.

My farewell tour!

2007-06-06T09:34:00.001-05:00

knitwits_farewell 016
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

Knitwits had a great party for me at last night's meeting. Here I am with my loot - the prayer shawl (knit by Nancy, blessed by all), the knitting monster (the one in orange, knit by Alice, pattern found by Joy), beautiful gift bags that will become knitting project bags, a card made by Nancy (including a group photo of our red scarf project group, enough money to get me to Vermillion, which is my first night on the road, and a SOCK icon) and the glowing white thing at the bottom left? The one thing I asked for - a signed styrofoam cooler to ride 'shotgun' with me as I travel.

I remember the night I joined Knitwits. I'd wanted to get involved, and I saw this notice for people to get together on Tuesday nights and knit baby hats. That sounded like something I could do! So I headed down to Cherry St. Artisan - and found a group of women at the reserved community table knitting, talking, slurping, and having a great time. Nancy pulled up a chair for me to join the group - and a wonderful friendship was begun. (You're making me cry again, Nancy!) The one cardinal rule of the group? NO RULES! That was at least three years ago.

We didn't just help babies, we helped each other, and made the world a better place. They'll continue on. Tuesday nights, I'll know where to find them. And now I need to find another band of trusty knitters.

Thank you, Knitwits!

footprints leading away from the scene...

2007-06-04T09:20:00.001-05:00

(This post is for Wally, who has a new blog. His old, baby blog.)

footprints leading away from the scene...
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

There's a whole world that swirls around me while I sleep. I left yesterday's chicken carcass in the garbage sack on the front porch, and this is what I found this morning when I opened the front door.

Well, not exactly. I found a very neatly opened garbage bag, with the chicken removed and obviously gnawed on, a few broken bones, and chicken shreds. And lots of ants. (There's a huge colony under the front porch.) I swept the debris away and noticed the tell-tale evidence shown in this picture. I guess I don't just have a groundhog in the neighborhood. Looks like I have a raccoon, too.

First day lily of the season

2007-06-01T16:57:00.001-05:00

Day lily
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

Summer has truly started. Lightening bugs the other night. And today, June 1, the first day lily bloomed at the Warming House. It must be summer.

Keeping a journal, writing a blog, both ways of marking moments and wondering what will happen in the future. This blog was started because I wanted to move north and my efforts were continually thwarted, so I decided to create "north" around me.

A year later, missing only a hockey stick to make my home a northern cabin, I'm really moving north. I've signed the contract. I will soon be in North Dakota, the land of Many Warming Houses. Hockey. Curling. Friday night drag races.

A memorable start to the summer.

Oh, Dudley! Look here!

2007-05-29T13:04:00.001-05:00

Oh, Dudley! Look here!
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian

I don't have my own dog, so I covet everyone else's. This is Dudley, a GIRL dog with a boy's name. The kids named her. When I found out that they'd named their orange cat "Purple", I stopped arguing with them.

Gazania magic

2007-05-15T11:25:00.001-05:00

may12_13_2007 003
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian.

I took lots of flower photos this weekend. Here is a gazania that I especially like - the colors were different from the gold/orange/bronze of the others at the store.

The whole place is green! We've had so much rain that everything is growing wild.

I admit that I spend much of my freetime sitting on the porch and watching life as it passes by. Looks like I'm not the only one watching. This squirrel sat (draped?) in this tree for 1/2 an hour, watching me knit and watch him. It's a good life for us both.

Latest hat

2007-05-09T08:20:00.001-05:00

iceland_hat 004
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian.

Here is my latest 2-headed hat (the reversible/lined stocking cap). Both 'heads' are the same color - Crystal Palace "Iceland" (Rose Petal #9576). Wonderful yarn to work with. A very lightly twisted singles that is almost like knitting with roving. Be careful of splitting the stitches unless you want to - I think purposely splitting stitches would be an interesting experiment - like the needlepoint canvases that have a basic stitch size (e.g., 10/in) then switch to petit point for details (e.g. 14-16-18/in?).

This hat joins the many others items (hats, cardigan sweaters, pullover sweaters, socks, mittens) going out today to the Afghans for Afghans Mother's Day campaign. Thank you to Phyllis McQ and Linda L!

Happy May Day!

2007-05-01T15:43:00.001-05:00

lilyofthevalley_043007
Originally uploaded by fiberbrarian.

Here are some Lilies of the Valley - can you smell them?

Like so many of you in the U.S., we had two springs. The first one came way too early, got the animals and plants crazy, then came a series of hard freezes that killed the flowers, some of the plants, and really beat up the animals (human spirits, too). This spring is a little more sedate. I had a hard time finding flowers to show for this posting, and I went to Shelter Gardens here in Columbia. Shelter has beautiful plantings and wonderful water gardens.

Follow the lily picture back to flickr to see the other photos. The fish are not in the ponds yet, but the frogs are back and singing like crazy! What a wonderful evening. The only bugs I saw were the bees and water bugs, skimming along the surface. A wonderful night for knitting by the waterfall!

Happy May Day!

WWKIPD - June 9, 2007

2007-04-18T14:14:00.000-05:00

World Wide Knit In Public Day (WWKIPD) is June 9, 2007! Make plans, Knitting Buddies!

Danielle writes:

Political? Nah, but if everyone in the world were a knitter do you think there’d be as many wars? I don’t think so. Seriously, we’d all be too busy swatching for gauge.

Good point!

Thanks to Mary Lynne, posting on Grey's Anatomy KAL and Whoduknit (good one).

Dulaan Five - Done!

2007-04-16T13:35:00.000-05:00

Wah-HOOO! I sent my box off to Dulaan today! And then sent an e-mail to Ryan over at MossyCottage Knits to let her know that I'd met my commitment: Five for Dulaan! Actually, I did 28 for Dulaan! 7 hats, 4 pairs of mittens, and 17 scarves.

I think that will be my only news today. Except that I made brownies to bring to work today and celebrate. And the day is truly gorgeous - a little maple by the campus bookstore is putting out new leaves right next to the ones killed by the several days of freezing temperatures. There's probably a lesson in there, but today I'm concentrating on Dulaan and those good people doing the work of sorting and shipping. Bless them.

Beautiful snowflake hat

2007-04-12T08:23:00.000-05:00

I found a beautiful snowflake hat over at Knitting with Grey's . The pattern is author created and she links to her sources - the snowflake is from Berroco and the thermal stitch that forms the side of the hat is from Knitty. The author and knitter is Knotingale.

With this odd spring that the midwest and much of the U.S. is having - a winter hat with snowflakes still seems appropriate!

I got my spinning wheel fixed last weekend! Actually, Dennis Kaiser of Hillcreek Fiber Studio fixed the wheel A YEAR AGO. (Through my bad treatment, my Ashford Traditional's wheel and spokes had separated. Dennis put it back together for me and glued it tight. Thanks, Dennis!) He asked me if I had the bolts to get the wheel reassembled. "Oh, absolutely! I put them in a safe place!"

We know how this ends, right? Last Saturday, a year later, I called and admitted that I could not find the bolts. I went out to the studio, got a sample of what I needed and headed in to Westlake's, where a nice young man pointed me to what I needed. One tiny glitch - the parts were a micronanotiny bit off, which I attributed to the different measurements of New Zealand and the U.S. I bought them anyway and they fit.

So - I got to spin for the first time in a year! I chose New Zealand Romney (an accidental tribute to my Ashford). A couple of skeins in a natural light grey, and a skein in a dark grey. The dark grey was especially overspun; the light grey was not all that balanced, either. I was too happy to be spinning to actually pay too much attention to 'the product.'

I tried to knit a fast warm scarf with two strands of the light grey held together and had to laugh - the stockinette stitches literally appeared diagonal on the scarf. So, I frogged it and plied the singles. MUCH NICER! I actually got one skein knit last night and then added in the plied dark grey to make a stripe. I couldn't put it down! (Along with the fact that I was listening to the Vancouver/Dallas hockey game that ran into FOUR OVERTIMES and ended at 2:30 central time. I didn't listen to the end - caught the results this morning. Vancouver. By 1 I think.)

Anyway - the spinning, the wool, the hats, the scarves - all appropriate as at least one forecaster is predicting snow for tomorrow/this weekend. sigh. But it's snowing up north, too, so we're in good company here at The Warming House!

Site cleaning

2007-04-10T09:33:00.000-05:00

I'm cleaning off the fiberbrarian blog, making it all library all the time. So - I need to take off the 2006 Socks link, and I can't figure out how to add it to the sidebar in the newer Blogger format.

1/2 pair / 8 pair (July 2006)

I got 'socked out' and I don't think I did any more than that. I got one sock done for the Afghans4afghans March collection and switched to hats. Anyway. Socks 2006 is now over for me!

2007 Christmas stamps - KNIT!

2007-03-30T16:26:00.000-05:00

The 2007 Christmas stamps are KNIT pictures! I can hear the flurry of graph paper being pulled from notebooks - chart these babies!

http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2007stamps/images/holidayknits250.jpg

ONE HOUSE!

2007-03-27T13:32:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it but I'm finally down to one address! One address with stuff that has spilled out onto the porch. But I'm working on it! Now that I'm done cleaning the old place, I can get working and really get the new place up to speed. For instance - actually sewing the curtains and hems rather than just pinning them. How nice would it be not to get snagged with straight pins every time I try to open the curtains!

And I've gotten some knitting done, too. Checkout my entry on Nascar Knitting - two reversible stocking hats. I've also finished the Irish Hiking Scarf and a baby blanket. No pictures of those two yet.

Did you get Meg Swansen's e-mail newsletter? Check out Schoolhousepress.com for details. They've now got a video of EZ's Surprise Baby Jacket! Even though I've made one SBJ, I'd like to get the video (DVD?) - Meg explains color stripes. That's worth the price of admission right there!

And, of course, where's Stephanie? She must be exhausted already - and the tour has just started! Be kind to her, Knitting Pilgrims!

Haven't posted because ...

2007-03-14T15:39:00.000-05:00

Okay. I haven't posted because:

I spend all my time reading and waiting for The Yarn Harlo t to update us on her renovation progress; or
I am still moving. Isn't there some statute of limitations or something? Can't we all just give up and say ENOUGH? Well, I tried and got called back in to do some more.

But here is The Warming House:

I said

Here is THE WARMING HOUSE!

Sorry. Can't get blogger to upload the picture. It was an old picture anyway. Little house, set way back from the road. Giant tufts of pampas grass dot the front yard. Big porch. Old red barn wood. Rain barrels at the corners. Steeped roof that leads to an A-frame loft. Old growth trees surround the perimeter of the yard. The grass is getting greener each day. The trees are lumpy with buds and flowers. And the birds are REALLY getting noisy!

It's a good life.

Nascar Knitting - update!

2007-02-26T16:25:00.000-06:00

Pretty pathetic. I think my goal to get full points for last week's Nascar Knitting was to knit, give away, or somehow consume/use up 500 grams of yarn since the race was 500 miles.

I did 56.7 grams (2 ounces). Thank goodness I used Bartlett's yarn in two colors because it's good heavy yarn and with two colors, there's some overlap! Here's one sock for the Afghans for Afghans special sock collection.
I did do some other knitting, but nothing that I could measure. Rats. I need to focus!

At least I did better than my guy, Kenny Schrader. That doesn't make me feel better!

Happily, this upcoming week is a 'bye' week (see schedule). My plan is to finish moving into the new place, start knitting like crazy and give yarn away like a mad woman! (The next race is 400 miles at Las Vegas.)

ps - AAAACCCCKKKKK! I just noticed that I lost my UFO list when I switched to the new blogger! Double rats! I saved the original text file somewhere. Add it to the list of things I need to do/upload.

Whew! Be careful!

2007-02-20T10:41:00.000-06:00

This morning I ran across a really cute widget: an analog clock that showed the specific time of a place. Sounds lame now, but it really looked cute this morning. I clicked the link, updated the info for my blog, and tried to install it. Nope. Had to change my blog to the new 'layout' rather than 'template' form, and the page warned that information would be lost. But NOT TO WORRY! a copy of the old template would be saved indefinitely so the information wouldn't really be lost.

Well, after many tries and multiple 'help' lists later, I never did find the copy of my old template, and the only thing that I know I lost in transition was the UFO Challenge ring stuff. Thank goodness for paper! I had a print copy of my UFO Challenge Ring connection info sitting here on my desk. With that I was able to connect to the ring, get the html code and reinstall it on my new layout.

All this angst, and where is the cute widget???? Back in the etherdust somewhere. I need to take a deep breath before I make any more changes!

I do admit, though, that moving stuff around is much easier in the new drag/drop layout. But now I need to get away from the blog for awhile and do some deep breathing. I am enough of an old-schooler that I want to be in control of the html when things go awry. Then - menus be damned!

Moral of the story? Print is forever (as long as you remember where you put it).
PS - Found another great challenge: Nascar Knitting! Icon:

Drip. Drip. Drip.

2007-02-19T10:21:00.000-06:00

If only I could post an audio clip of the most wonderful sound on earth: drip. drip. drip.

We're melting. (In the good way not the Wizard of Oz way.) I understand that this means patches of ice will be even slipperier and mounds of mud will emerge. Not a problem. I am okay with all of this. Tougher to take will be the next ice/snow storm that occurs. It will happen. I will play Pollyanna's Glad Game and survive.

This was a busy and somewhat traumatic weekend. After work on Friday, I had to take time to knit at the yarn shoppe. Just. Had. To. Bex was there and Chrisma. They worked. I knit. And bought a little bit of yarn. Most of it was ON SALE so it doesn't count. (Sorry. Details later.)

A smattering of snow (nothing substantial) was forecast for Friday night and Saturday morning. Didn't really think too much about it until I walked out of the store at 6pm - BLIZZARD! Okay, not officially a blizzard, but it was dark and there was a lot of blowing snow, severely dropping visibility. The Mustang made it home with no surprising incidents, but I was snowbound until Saturday afternoon when it cleared and started melting because of the sun not tempterature. I managed to get some clothes moved over to The Warming House but not much. Sunday afternoon and evening I managed to get the futon frame and mattress moved while trying to watch the Daytona 500. (Could not believe that Mark Martin lost in the last couple of seconds. I don't remember hearing much about Harvik the entire race -- until the last couple of seconds! What an ending! My guy, though, is Kenny Schrader. I've been watching him and the M&M's car since I started watching NASCAR ~10 years ago. I know - Kenny isn't in the M's car anymore, but I choose my cars by their sponsors. Tide. M&M's.)

In the meantime, I did get some knitting done. I started and finished a dish rag during yesterday's monthly quilt group at Miss Millie's. And by Friday, my red IHS was more than half done. (I know this because I have two skeins of Mt. Color's yarn, and I finished the first skein last week. About 37" long. Ergo, I am half done.)

I was just looking at Beth's beautiful spinning - I always get so tickled by how closely the dog art in the top left column resembles her dogs. What soulful expressions! What cuties! I can't wait until I can have a dog, too. Until then, I'll live vicariously. Thanks, Beth!

Happy St. Valentine's Day!

2007-02-14T12:22:00.000-06:00

I have sent out some virtual Valentines. Not the same as the paper ones. While moving around boxes in the back room, I found a bag full of paper cards that never got sent: Christmas, Valentine's, Halloween, Thanksgiving. My friends know that I send Christmas cards all year 'round. Maybe I need to extend that blanket arrangement to all holiday cards.

The Yarn Harlot has an interesting approach to Valen tine's Day. She suggests that the day is better spent not focusing on romantic can't-live-without-you love but on the rock solid love that is built on trust and friendship and sharing daily unromantic tasks.

And there's Franklin's list of alternative ways to say "I love you" to a knitter.

I remember deciding a few years ago that on this day - especially on this day - everyone deserves to be loved. And this is the day you recognize the good acts and kindnesses that are given everyday without any thought of reward. Kind of a Thanksgiving Day in February, except the holiday icon is a heart (not a turkey or fall foliage) and the color is red (not green or orange or brown).

So - here is a little Valentine for you. My Irish Hiking Scarf (UFO #3) in Mt. Color "Ruby Red":

The actual color is closer to the close-up photo on the left. The scarf on the right shows the unexpected but appreciated darker red zigzag beginning to appear in the colorway.

Thank you to Mountain Colors for their wonderful yarn and gorgeous colors, and to Fuzzy Mabel yarn shop for helping me find this beautiful yarn!

SNOW!

2007-02-13T09:22:00.000-06:00

I realize this blog is called "The Warming House" and that title implies the love of winter. I do love winter, but not down here in Missouri! This is what greeted me as I walked out the door this morning.

Word is that it will get worse by this afternoon. sigh. Thank goodness for all the snow plowers and salters and good people who try to make walking/driving as safe as possible. And a special shout out to my coffee lady in Memorial Union. Bless them all.

In the meantime, I sent off my last scarf Friday to the mandala project. A tweedy mix of colors from Jo Sharp. mmmmmmmmm. Love that tweed. These colors/yarns are leftover from the scarf I have yet to finish from the Scarf Style book. (UFO # 13)

Rather than finish that, I am working on the Irish Hiking Scarf (UFO #3). It's portable, which seems to be important right now. It is not mindless knitting, however, so we'll see how it works out. The yarn (Mt. Colors - Mountain Goat - Ruby River) is spectacular. But I expect that of Mt. Colors now. What stunning yarn and color.

FOs and Barlett Yarn!

2007-02-06T09:51:00.000-06:00

I've actually finished some things! Numbers six and seven from the UFO list (on the right panel of this blog) are completed!

The mandala scarf (knit from Araucania's Nature Wool), 8" wide by 7' long:

There's a slight variegation in the yarn. I got a note from the ND Art Museum that they've received the scarf - and really like the color!

Elizabeth Zimmerman's Surprise Baby Jacket (knit from Louet Gems - washable wool, 4-ply of grays, black and yellow/gold):

In the meantime, I've gotten the Bartlett Wool yarn, straight from the Mill, to knit some socks for AfghansforAfghans. There's a special push to get 250 pairs of socks to school kids by March 7. Bartlett's gave VERY fast service - I just ordered it the end of last week and it came UPS ground yesterday. I chipped ice for awhile then went in and opened my package. What a nice reward! (When you visit their Web site, be sure to learn about their mill!)

I decided that buying yarn for a special project did not break my pledge to reduce my yarn stash. Especially since the yarn is from a U.S. mill! BTW: I first used Bartlett wool when it was included in a Christmas stocking kit from Annie's Woolens in Wisconsin. I was wonderfully pleased with BOTH Annie's and Bartlett's!

Knit on!

New Day in America

2007-02-01T16:18:00.000-06:00

I'm doing it. I'm making a commitment to John Edwards, to populists, to Molly Ivins, and every other bleeding heart do-gooder around. It's time to get involved.

There's Good News and then there's More Good News!

2007-01-25T10:19:00.000-06:00

I have delayed going to the tire shop because I feared what I would hear - "OMG LADY! Your car is death on wheels! You must buy these four very expensive tires!"

Didn't happen. My tires are fine except that they are very underinflated. As for having no traction on ice and snow? It's a MUSTANG. A SPORTS CAR. Not an SUV. If we get another ice storm, he suggested that I get a ride with a friend. (I think I'll just stay home.)

But it will have to continue serving as a pick up until I get this move over. In a few weeks it can be a sports car again. And I will wash it and clean its upholstery and get it two new sporty tires. And by then we should have spring, so ice and snow will be a memory. That's the plan.

As for knitting, I'm still working on the (endless) mandala scarf. It is so blue. Paul Newman and Robert Redford's eyes blue, deep sea blue. Stunning. But it is seven feet of garter stitch. I'm trying to keep the meditation going, but since this is the third scarf, there's more boredom than meditation I fear. It is UFO #7 on the list, though, so it will get finished!

UFO list added

2007-01-24T08:19:00.000-06:00

I made a list of the UFOs I want to complete in the next 12 months. YIKES! Who knew?

To be honest, I had a hunch things were stacking up. In my defense, however, this list is NOT my FO (finished objects) list, a list that I have yet to start.

The most important and timely UFO on the list is the dissertation. Must. get.that.finished.

The UFO Challenge!

2007-01-23T10:17:00.000-06:00

I've enrolled this blog and its many unfinished projects in the UFO ring. As I've been packing, I've been digging in boxes and bags and piles. The number of UFOs that I've found is bordering on astronomical. Time to get these puppies finished. Thanks, UFO ring members, for keeping me on target! (See the UFO ring listed on the right side bar.)

Five for Dulaan!

2007-01-22T09:16:00.000-06:00

I've made my five (and more) for Dulaan, so I've met the pledge! I spent yesterday (a snow day) going through and sorting finished projects. Mittens, scarves, hats. Today's on campus project is to print the packing list for the box (check). Tonight I'll finish washing everything so they can go out by the end of the week. I'll get some pictures of them before they get sent off. One thing I'll be sending is something I spun, dyed and knit. Won a blue ribbon at the Boone County Fair! It's a cross between a shawl and a scarf, done in a 4x4 rib so it's really stretchy. Merino top so it's really soft. And a variegated green so it's ... green.

I've been looking for the perfect house, and I think I've found it. Well, not perfect because the bathroom is indescribable, but it's a unique idiosyncratic building, that's for sure! The Warming House. Pictures coming.

Mandalas and EZ Surprise Jacket

2007-01-18T15:07:00.000-06:00

While cruising one day, I learned that the North Dakota Museum of Art is creating a mandala of knitted (and crocheted and woven) scarves! They are accepting donations of yarns, 8" by 7' long, that will be distributed to shelters in Grand Forks after the exhibit. How cool is that? TWO rounds of karma -- good art and good deed!

A seven foot scarf can get a little tedious. To help show me that I was indeed making progress, I'd add a string or marker on the edge of the scarf each morning as I began knitting.

To keep myself going, I would make it a point to knit at least a row in the morning before going to work. Since it is mindless knitting, I took it to work and knit during breaks/lunch/whenever I could steal a stitch or two. When I finally got to the last foot of the first scarf, I tied on a little gold bell to remind me that I only had one more foot to knit.

It worked! I finished the first one and almost immediately cast on for the second scarf, which I finished rather quickly. I'm now on my third.

Both scarves: Noro.
Green = Kochoran (the clumps of angora make this yarn so appealing!)
Bright multicolor= Kureyon (two different colorways; used my stash)

I also got the chance to try out Elizabeth Zimmerman's Surprise (baby) Jacket. Knit all in one piece, this knitting was all-consuming, painful, and totally worth it once it was finished. I'm seriously thinking of doing another one. One of the bloggers on the EZ KAL wrote that she wished she'd knitted hers in a variegated yarn, so that's what I did. Details follow. I still need to sew the two shoulder seams and add buttons. The recipient is Charley, who was due Feb. 2 but decided to come during our ice and sleet storm last Friday night, January 12th.

Happy Birthday, Charley!

The Warming House

A Thought to Ponder on This Lovely Day -

Unbelievable

Invented design wall

Happy Thanksgiving!

11-22-33

Happy Birthday, Grandma Van!

First weaving - finished!

80', in OCTOBER.

Last of the harvest

Sept. 11, 2011

Hyles lineata (white lined sphinx)

111

My New Baby!

92' with a 74' dewpoint

Good News & Bad News

8:00am March 23, 2011

Road Conditions - 10:30pm

Calm before (another) storm...

Blizzard!

Definitely January!

Merry Christmas! (almost)

I LUV NORTH DAKOTA!

Fall Festivities in North Dakota

North Country Fiber Fair - 2010 purchases

North Country Fiber Fair 2010

Early morning spinning

FIRST HARVEST!

Tour de France Preview tonight!

4-minute day!

Winter morning

An Experiment

My favorite tree survived!

Happy New Year!

Christmas (and New Year's Eve) 2009

Thanksgiving Evening

Flowers in November!

Happy Birthday, North Dakota!

Happy Birthday, North Dakota!

First Frost of the Season - 09292009

HatWars - first level

Just a travelin' gal

If you must have a fever....

Crock Pot Dyeing

Smiley

Sock blanket

sock blankie

HOT!

Beagle Scarf - Home Spun

Tour de Fleece Ends!

End of the "Moulin Rouge" BFL

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Canada Day!

Minot Knitting!

Group picture. TdF 2009

I CAN'T FIND THE REMOTE CONTROL!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Full Moon Flooding

EZ surprise jacket

Close call!

Bunny catching some rays!

It's beginning ...

Christmas knitting

HolidaySwap 2008 from OzKnitter!

First frost on the car = First day of winter

Summer happened - and back to winter!

Snowy Saturday of spring break

Hat Attack

Not my original plan

BLOOMING impatien - feb. 6, 2008

KoolAid Scarf!

There *IS* a Holly Hobbie!

Square hat or Flat hat?

North Dakota!

7 things -

My farewell tour!

footprints leading away from the scene...

First day lily of the season

Oh, Dudley! Look here!

Gazania magic

There IS a Holly Hobbie!