Okay, actually, we (the judges) have chosen the winners of the “Suggest a Contest” contest, and are in the process of contacting the winners to let them choose their desired items. As soon as they have, I’ll be posting the results.

I got my Secret Pal 5 assignment today (thanks, Rox!) and have both contacted and been contacted by my secret pals. I’ve visited the blog of the person whom I’m privileged to spoil and read what there is to glean as to personality and such. She hasn’t been blogging for that long (but then, really, neither have I!) so there’s not too much to read . . . yet!

Actually, come to think of it, my KRSecret Pal (the one to whom I am gifting as opposed to the other way around, about whom I have no idea) doesn’t have a very active blog, either. I’ve basically just got the survey to go on . . . hope I’m doing okay!

Anyway. I’ve decided not to frog my NbaT Back, and am now up to the beginning of the neck shaping. As soon as I get the Back done (this weekend, at least, I’m sure!), I’m going back to my Peacock! I read in a comment on somebody’s blog (I’m so sorry, I forget whose) the other day that Wendy has ordered the pattern for the Peacock Feathers shawl, and we all know how fast SHE knits. I’ve got to get a move on or she’ll have hers done before I finish those last 12 rows of edging …

I have not yet decided how I’m going to ply those purple singles. There’s no problem, though, that the singles are too “fresh.” I spun this lovely purple roving back before I got my Lendrum, and the bobbins have been sitting in the basket on Chappy’s crate ever since. As “ageing” bobbins goes, these are ripe!

And, on an icky, non-knitting note, I found a tick behind Chappy’s ear tonight. Ugh. I pried the thing off his neck with my trusty Ticked Off spoon–the handiest tick-removal method ever. Then I checked him over–all by feel since ticks pretty much blend in with those brown curls–and then spritzed him with Cloud Nine. (An herbal flea and tick repellent which works wonderfully without being a pesticide like almost anything you’d buy at the vet’s office–I do not believe in applying pesticides to my dog’s shoulder blades, but that’s another story. The important thing to remember here is that Cloud Nine works better when you remember to spray it on your dog on something like a regular basis.) I also spritzed his crate–just because–and now he won’t go near it. (sigh)

What, if any, purpose do ticks have on this planet?? I mean, I’m not overly fond of spiders, either, but they have a valuable role in keeping other insect populations under control. As long as they stay out of sight, I’m more than happy to have them in my walls. But ticks? Other than spreading Lyme disease, what purpose could they possibly have? (As if Lyme disease is something you want spread, which of course, we don’t, so even there . . . not exactly a laudable purpose.)

And speaking of bugs somewhere between walking out of my office yesterday, and walking to my car, I got a mosquito bite right on my left hand ring finger. And it itches! I’ve been joking today that it was the Marriage Bug . . . yeah, yeah, I know. Baaaaad joke.

Tags: General, Knitting/Spinning // 1 Comment »